Bureau Of Indian Affairs Agent In Crash On Reservation, Agency Not Talking

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs did not respond to questions Tuesday about one of its own agents involved in a car crash on the Wind River Indian Reservation early Sunday. The BIA is investigating the incident "internally," authorities say. 

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Clair McFarland

December 11, 20241 min read

Wind River Indian Reservation sign 5 20 24
(Clair McFarland, Cowboy State Daily)

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs didn't respond to questions Tuesday about one of its agents involved in a crash on the Wind River Indian Reservation on Sunday morning.

Fremont County Undersheriff Mike Hutchinson confirmed the crash, but said his agency “didn’t investigate it. We did assist BIA with a traffic crash involving a BIA officer.”

BIA did not respond to a Cowboy State Daily Tuesday morning request for more information by publication time.

The sheriff’s office has limited jurisdiction on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The state-certified police can only investigate crimes involving non-native people there.

“We determined we weren’t the right agency to assist,” said Hutchison.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol also responded to take a crash report. That crash report was not complete as of Tuesday afternoon, WHP spokesman Arron Healy told Cowboy State Daily.

The FBI, which investigates felony-level crimes on the reservation, declined to comment and said it is not involved with this investigation.

“Ultimately,” said Hutchison, “that issue was handled by BIA internally.”

Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.

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Clair McFarland

Crime and Courts Reporter