The Fort Peck Tribal Police are being sued by a tribal member in federal court.

In a court document filed in Montana Federal Court, tribal member Brandy Azure alleges the tribal police violated her rights, destroyed her property, and cost her a job, among other things.

The lawsuit names the United States Government, Tribal Police Captain Jim Summers, officer Jonah Riediger and “Doe’s one through ten” as defendants.

Azure is seeking an un-determined settlement for the incident.

The events leading up to this started in April 8, 2023, around 3:47 p.m., when Azure was told someone who was using her car was arrested by tribal police, the car keys are in his possession.

The car was locked and left unguarded.

Azure’s daughter Avery met with police officers at the vehicle and the cops told her the vehicle was being impounded and Avery could not take the car.

Azure called the jail and tried to get the keys but the jail staff kept telling her they could not release the vehicle or did not have the keys, documents state.

The car was never impounded or towed. Azure called the jail again but they insisted they didn’t have the keys at the jail. It sat, unguarded, in a neighborhood on the west end of Poplar. Vandals rendered the car inoperable, and she had to pay to get her car towed, which required taking the drive line off the vehicle.

The following Monday, Azure and her daughter went to the Department of Law and Justice to speak with someone about the incident.

Before speaking with officer Riediger, Azure took her phone and began recording the conversation, documents state.

Riediger came out to speak with them, and when Azure explained the situation he cut her off and said the police didn’t seize her car and bore no responsibility for any vandalism that happened. Azure asked for the names of the other officers involved in the arrest that led to her vehicle being stopped and eventually desecrated by vandals but Riediger wouldn’t give any names.

Captain Summers came out of his office and told Azure she and her daughter had to leave because they were recording the conversation without permission. Riediger then said “Oh you’re recording me,” and forcefully jerked the phone from Azure and told her he was taking it from her.

Summers told the women they needed to ask permission. Both officers were angry and threatened to arrest Azure for recording their interaction, documents state.

Summers took Azure’s phone number and said he would get video footage from the incident and find out which officer told Avery that the car was going to be seized and impounded and that she could not take the car.

He then made Riediger return Azure’s phone and forced her to delete the recording on her phone.

Summers never followed up with Azure about her car, documents state.