LOWER BRULE - A Lower Brule man was sentenced to 10 months in jail after a March altercation with a law enforcement officer.
On March 19, 2016, an officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs received a call reporting an assault took place at a Lower Brule residence. While in route to the call, the officer was informed the suspect, 32-year-old Johnny Walking Bull, had left the residence wearing a light blue jacket and blue jeans in a blue Dodge Durango, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
While traveling toward Fort Thompson - the direction Walking Bull was allegedly traveling - the officer saw a vehicle and passengers matching the description, and initiated a traffic stop.
The officer determined Walking Bull was in the vehicle, and when he asked Walking Bull to exit the vehicle, he responded with profane language and refused to follow the officer's request.
Walking Bull eventually exited the vehicle, removed his jacket and assumed a fighting stance toward the officer, clenching his fists. Then, Walking Bull starting swinging his fists at the officer and both ended up wrestling on the ground, with Walking Bull throwing punches at the officer and striking him on the cheek.
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Walking Bull was taken into custody and transported to jail and was charged with assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer. After pleading guilty, he was sentenced Jan. 4 to 10 months in custody, 12 months of supervised release and was ordered to pay $25 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
