⏱ 2 min read
Tiauna Mirage Crow Ghost, a 29-year-old woman from McLaughlin, South Dakota, spat on a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer during a traffic stop on September 9, 2025. The officer had pulled Crow Ghost over because she was driving a vehicle reported stolen. After being handcuffed and placed in the back seat of the squad car, Crow Ghost became upset and assaulted the officer. The incident occurred in McLaughlin, South Dakota, and Crow Ghost was later indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025.
Crow Ghost pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026, and was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem.
The sentencing took place on June 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann. Crow Ghost was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve her federal sentence. The incident highlights the risks faced by law enforcement officers during routine traffic stops and the consequences of assaulting a federal officer.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
