Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1997 | 1:58 a.m.
Gary Peck, ACLU of Nevada executive director, also said the group is asking the U.S. attorney general's office to investigate the allegations, and it's seeking a report the Bureau of Indian Affairs may have done.
"We are now at the point where we believe something needs to be done, and we are researching the matter to figure out what our legal options are," Peck said. "We are now convinced that there is in fact a problem, and that the problem is systemic and that it is not isolated."
"We will contact the U.S. attorney in Las Vegas and ask that he begin a serious investigation to determine whether or not the alleged activities rise to the level of criminal activity," said Peck. "We believe they might."
Washoe Tribal Chairman Brian Wallace said he had no comment.
The ACLU was alerted to a November 1995 incident involving tribal member Charles Mose and tribal police earlier this year.
A letter from Minden attorney Karen Winters to the ACLU outlined an incident during which tribal police allegedly restrained Mose, a suspect in a domestic dispute, then allowed others to hit him with a shovel and a baseball bat.
In July of this year, Dresslerville resident David James claimed he suffered a broken arm and ribs during his arrest in May. In August, the Dresslerville Community Council passed a resolution to try to ban the tribal police from the reservation, claiming "a highly unstable and volatile situation."
Other tribal members have informally accused the tribal police of using undue force. Most recently, a small group of marchers walked on Friday from Minden to Carson City, hoisting signs alleging police brutality.
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