Spirit Lake Nation responds to misconduct allegations at sheriff’s office, calls out ‘urgent need’ for responsive law enforcement

Travis Carlson was arrested for mistreating, oppressing and illegally arresting and transporting tribal citizens. He is also facing other charges involving misconduct against Natives and non-Natives.

“We must listen to the stories of our tribal members and prioritize their safety within our reservation boundaries,” stated Tribal Chairwoman Lonna Jackson-Street in an Aug. 12 Spirit Lake news release. “This moment serves as a reminder that accountability is essential in maintaining trust within our community. We stand in solidarity with those affected and encourage all members to report any incidents or concerns to our Spirit Lake Victim Services.”

Carlson’s arrest is the latest fallout from two concurrent investigations into a range of serious misconduct over the past few years at the Benson County Sheriff’s Office in North Dakota.

Benson County State’s Attorney James Wang told Buffalo’s Fire his office launched an investigation into Carlson more than a year ago when a Benson County sheriff’s deputy, during an exit interview, reported misconduct by Carlson.

“Under the statute by state law, I am obligated when I suspect there is criminal activity — as is law enforcement — to report those crimes,” State’s Attorney James Wang told Buffalo’s Fire.

The investigation discovered no evidence Benson County Sheriff Ethan Rode had disciplined Carlson for his actions, Wang said — actions that continued even as the investigation was underway.

Wang said his office then launched a separate, concurrent investigation into Rode after suspecting him of putting an individual on the county payroll before the person had actually begun work. The North Dakota’s Office of the Attorney General assisted with the investigations.

State’s Attorney Wang accused Rode of misconduct, malfeasance, neglect of duty in office and gross incompetency in a June 20 petition for removal before the Benson County Court.

Rode stepped down as sheriff just as Carlson was arrested, as did two other Benson County deputies. Dick Horner, a Benson County commissioner with law enforcement experience, was appointed interim sheriff on July 25.

The same day, Carlson was released from the Grand Forks County Correctional Center after posting $10,000 bail.

Wang said Benson County is finding candidates for sheriff. “Hopefully the commissioners will choose the right person,” he said.

Carlson accused of mistreating Native teen

Carlson is facing 13 charges, including three Class C felonies for tampering with public records, according to the Ramsey County District Court. Carlson’s arrest was carried out by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. His multiple misdemeanor charges include official oppression, refusing to perform duty as a public servant, failure to appear and disorderly conduct.

According to court documents, on May 27, Carlson arrested two tribal members on the reservation for alleged felony offenses in Indian Country and transported them to the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center off the reservation. He falsely claimed there was an extradition hearing in tribal court and that he had concurrent jurisdiction, according to the charges. Carlson’s charges for official oppression include an incident on or about Sept. 30, 2024 in which he “illegally detained, mistreated and infringed on the personal rights of a juvenile passenger” during a traffic stop.

The state’s attorney’s petition for removal of Rode details a video posted on Facebook showing Carlson, dressed in plainclothes, kneeling on the back of a young man with the young man’s hands behind his back. The young man, separately identified as a 14-year-old Spirit Nation citizen, was not handcuffed or under arrest, and the petition states Carlson filed no report explaining his use of force.

Carlson’s disorderly conduct charges include several incidents of sexual harassment in Benson County in 2023, 2024 and 2025. In addition, on July 9, 2024, he is accused of following a woman into a bathroom with his body camera on while she provided a urine sample for drug testing.

A ‘wandering cop’

A video recording of Carlson’s bail hearing July 25 in Ramsey County District Court shows the prosecutor painting a troubling picture of the chief deputy.

Oliver Bromke, Benson County special assistant state’s attorney, said that in 2014, Carlson was fired from Belfield Police Department in Belfield, North Dakota, for having sex in a patrol car while on duty. For the next decade, Bromke said at the hearing, Carlson was a “wandering cop.” After his firing from the Belville department, he temporarily lost his North Dakota peace officer license. Bromke said Carlson then went to South Dakota and Minnesota before being reinstated in North Dakota. “Whenever he is or gets close to being held to account for bad actions he’s taken as an officer, he just goes somewhere else to start the process over again,” said Bromke.

Bromke noted the breadth of the charges against Carlson.

“The crimes represent not just offenses against the Spirit Lake Nation reservation community but against the people of the state of North Dakota,” he said.

Defense attorney Tanya Johnson Martinez reminded the court during the hearing that Carlson is innocent until proven guilty.

She described him as a homeowner and a dad who has sole custody of his 11-year-old daughter. She said he has ties to his community, having lived there for five years. Carlson lives in Devil’s Lake, north of the Spirit Lake Nation.

Martinez did not respond to a request for comment.

Resignations leave law enforcement gaps

Carlson’s arrest and the resignations of the sheriff and two deputies leave just the interim sheriff and one other deputy, who is currently on leave for military training, to cover the 1,439-square mile county, which had a population of 5,964 people during the 2020 census.

Interim Sheriff Horner told Buffalo’s Fire he is getting help from other jurisdictions to cover the policing needs of the county until he can hire new deputies. Horner, who served in parks and recreation law enforcement for 32 years prior to becoming a Benson County Commissioner, said he had also received complaints as a commissioner about Carlson related to the charges he now faces.

“How he got hired,” Horner said, “I don’t know.”

As a condition of his release on bail, Carlson cannot work as a licensed peace officer or law enforcement officer in North Dakota. He is not allowed contact with any of the alleged victims, and he is not allowed to go on Spirit Lake Nation land.

Violating any of the terms can lead to a warrant for his arrest. These terms are in effect until his next court date.

“Statistics show more than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, often at the hands of non-Native perpetrators,” stated Spirit Lake’s tribal council in their Aug. 12 news release. “This reality underscores the urgent need for responsive law enforcement and robust community support systems.”

The council urges anyone in the community who experienced police misconduct to contact Spirit Lake Victim Services at 701-766-1816 or the Fort Totten Police Department at 701-766-4231.