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« Saltwater fishing show lands in Providence | Today | Smoke-shop verdict mixed; chief sachem guilty of assault » April 4, 2008Smoke-shop verdict: Findings against each defendantPROVIDENCE -- The verdicts returned this afternoon by a Superior Court jury in the Narragansett Indian smoke-shop raid case are as follows: * Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, who has served on the tribal council since 1990 and was elected the tribe’s youngest chief sachem since Colonial times: - Not guilty: Disorderly conduct * Hiawatha Brown, who works as a stonemason and has served on the tribal council for much of the past three decades: - Guilty: Disorderly conduct * John Brown, the tribe’s medicine-man-in-training and historic preservation officer who's been on the tribal council for 25 years: - Not guilty: Disorderly conduct * Thawn Harris, a federally trained conservation officer for the tribe: - Not guilty: Resisting arrest * Adam Jennings, a dealer at Foxwoods Resort Casino in eastern Connecticut: * Randy Noka, tribal first councilman and a federally trained law enforcement officer who works at the Mohegan Sun casino in eastern Connecticut: - Guilty: Disorderly conduct * Bella Noka, Randy Noka’s wife, who was on the tribal council at the time of the raid: - Not guilty: Disorderly conduct Posted by Andrea Panciera CommentsDorothy Smith | April 5, 2008 8:34 AM link It's interesting that none of the State Police were charged in this raid with using excessive force. This was a PR disaster for the State Police. My friend who is a former police lieutenant informed me he would never would have had his officers go into a situation as the State Police did in this raid - especially with the media being there. This could have been resolved as simply as serving notice to the Narragansett's by the State Police without the repercussions that followed that I am sure all Rhode Islander's are paying for now. Good luck to Patrick Lynch in 2010! Ted Lewandowski | April 5, 2008 9:52 PM link The members of the Narragansett Tribe were the victims in the situation and the State Police should have been on trial rather than them. The guilty charges are disturbing and I really wish that the officers involved or those who gave the directions to raid their smoke shop were held accountable! Bobby | April 7, 2008 1:26 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Where are the rallies seeking justice for the indians-----the first victims of illegal immigrants. The storming of the tribal land by the state police was horrifying to see. The Indians resistance was a natural human response.