Former Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department Officer Lindrith Tsoodle, 58, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for using excessive force against a handcuffed suspect and lying to a federal agent.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland handed down the sentence, which includes two years of supervised release following completion of the prison term.
Tsoodle was convicted of twisting the neck of a handcuffed suspect, throwing him to the ground and dropping a knee on him during an incident on April 1, 2014. He was also convicted of excessively tightening the handcuffs of an arrestee, slamming him against the wall, using pepper spray on the arrestee and striking him with his hands and a baton on a separate occasion.
Additionally, Tsoodle was convicted of telling various false statements to a U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Special Agent who interviewed him regarding one of the assaults.
“Our system of government requires police officers to abide by the laws they enforce and to protect the constitutional rights of all persons in their custody,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels of the Civil Rights Division.
“This officer used his official position to commit civil rights abuses and then lied about his actions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the civil rights of the citizens on the reservations in North Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Purdon for the District of North Dakota.
The case was investigated by the Minot Resident Agency of the Minneapolis Division of the FBI and was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Gerald Hogan and Nicholas Durham of the Civil Rights Division.
Tsoodle’s sentencing serves as a reminder that police officers must uphold the law and protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their position or authority.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division will continue to work together to ensure that those who abuse their power are held accountable for their actions.
RELATED: Ex-Cop Tyson Baker Jailed for Stealing $5K in Drug Busts
Related Federal Cases
- Repeat Sex Offender Jailed 19+ Years · North Dakota
- Agbaje Sentenced for Drug Smuggling Ring · North Dakota
- Minot Felon Jerome Fletcher Sentenced for Gun Magazines · Oregon
- Johnson Brothers Face Fraud Sentence in North Dakota · North Dakota
- Sherlann Simon Pleads Guilty to Drug Money Laundering · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
