The State Court of Appeals has affirmed a Becker County court decision allowing a tribal officer to make a stop and an arrest outside a reservation’s boundaries.
According to court documents, Raymond Bellcourt failed to stop for a school bus with an extended stop-signal arm and flashing lights.
Bellcourt reportedly was driving a pickup truck with a plow attachment and passed the bus, on the right, at a high rate of speed.
His defense appealed that because a White Earth tribal officer arrested him outside the boundaries of the White Earth reservation, the officer was outside his authority.
The courts affirmed that because the tribal office was a state-licensed peace officer, he was acting in the course and scope of his employment.
