ROSEBUD – The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council approved a resolution authorizing law enforcement to arrest a tribal citizen, wanted on outstanding state warrants, within the reservation boundaries.
The action was taken after tribal officials suspected Arkadius Wright, an alleged murderer wanted in Pennington County, had fled to the Rosebud reservation.
Resolution 2024-56 states in part: “the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services recommends the adoption and approval of the United States Marshalls Service Fugitive Task Force Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Non-Federal Agencies, the primary mission of the task force is to investigate and arrest, as part joint law enforcement operations, persons who have active warrants for their arrest, the intent of the joint effort is to investigate and apprehend federal, state, tribal, and territorial fugitives, thereby improving public safety and reducing violent crime; and
“WHEREAS, the participating agency agrees to refer cases for which they hold the primary warrant for the subject to the RFTF (Regional Fugitive Task Force) or VOTF (Violent Offender Task Force) for adoption and investigation. Targeted crimes will primarily include violent crimes against person, weapons offenses, felony drug offenses, failure to register as a sex offender, and crimes committee by subjects who have a criminal history involving violent crimes, felony drug offenses, and/or weapons offenses. . .the MOU is in effect once signed by all the parties. Participating agencies may withdraw their participation after providing 30 days advanced written notice to the RFTF/VOTF Chief Inspector/Chief Deputy . . . the United States Marshalls Service shall notify and obtain prior consent and approval from the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Chief Administrator, RST Law Enforcement Services Department, prior to initiating any joint law enforcement operations.”
The resolution was approved by a roll call vote with nine in favor, six against, zero not voting and five absent at a regular tribal council meeting held on Feb. 28. Voting in favor of the resolution were Lisa White Pipe, Evastine Wright, Stanley Wooden Knife Jr., Michelle Hollow Horn Bear, Fremont Fallis, Charles DuBray Jr., William Marshall, Wayne Frederick and Martha Blue Thunder. Voting against the resolution were Jordan Rahn, Christopher Eagle Bear, Micah Lunderman, Emily Boyd-Valandra, Raymond Crow Eagle and Ben Black Bear III. Absent were Shere Wright-Plank, Kathleen Wooden Knife, Lila Kills In Sight, Dera Iyotte and Dwight Spotted Tail.
On Feb. 29 at 2:31pm, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Facebook page posted a photo of Wright with the following update: “ARKADIUS WRIGHT HAS BEEN FOUND AND ARRESTED BY RPD WITHOUT INCIDENT. RPD WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC FOR THE INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CAPTURE OF WRIGHT.”
Wright was subsequently booked into the Pennington County Jail on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 11:44a,. He is charged with Simple Assault/Domestic-Failure to Appear, Murder in the First Degree/Felony Murder and Possession of a Controlled Drug-Failure to Appear. The Rapid City Police Department posted an update on their Facebook page stating: “This afternoon, 21-year-old Arkadius Wright Sr. of Box Elder was taken into custody by the RCPD and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office for First Degree Murder in relation to the February 21st shooting death of Esther Wolfe. His arrest comes as the result of hundreds of hours of diligent work by investigation teams of both the RCPD and the PCSO along with assistance from our law enforcement partners at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Marshals.”
RST Law Enforcement officers can be reached at (605) 747-5928.
Sicangu News 
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