LaRose arrested for trespass–again

By Molly Miron

Pioneer Editor

      Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Secretary/Treasurer Arthur “Archie” LaRose spent Thursday night in the Cass County Jail in Walker.

      He was arrested after 5 p.m. on Thursday for trespassing at the Palace Casino in Cass Lake. The Leech Lake Tribal Council has issued an exclusion order against LaRose at the tribal casinos.

      As a member of the Tribal Council, LaRose maintains he cannot be denied access to the casinos.

      Cass County District Judge David Harrington dismissed the charge on Friday.

      LaRose was previously arrested by Leech Lake Tribal Police for trespass at the casino on Feb. 25, the first day he took office. He was jailed briefly on that occasion.

      Because the judge dismissed the charge against LaRose on Friday, Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher said he would not automatically take LaRose into custody if he is charged again. However, he said each incident must be examined individually.

      “If the circumstances would be identical, we probably won’t make a custody arrest,” Fisher said Friday. “We certainly want to respond appropriately as a law enforcement agency.”

      On March 11, Cass County District Judge John P. Smith presided over the matter of LaRose’s citation on the Feb. 25 trespassing charge. Cass County Attorney Earl Maus recommended the issue be transferred to Leech Lake Tribal Court, and the judge agreed it could be best dealt with in Tribal Court because it related to tribal policies. However, Leech Lake Attorney Michael Garbow filed a motion on Monday to deny the transfer to Tribal Court and to return the matter to Cass County Court.

      The Leech Lake Tribal Headquarters were closed on Friday to allow employees to attend the Cass Lake-Bena Boys’ Basketball Team game at the State Tournament in the Twin Cities.