Pennington County State's Attorney faces calls for resignation

Pennington County Administration Building
Lee Strubinger

Activists walked into the Pennington County Administration Building Tuesday morning to demand the resignation of State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel.

The Rapid City Journal reports as many as 30 people protested on the fourth floor of the building with signs and a large print petition calling for Roetzel’s resignation.

Protesters say a lack of justice for Native Americans, including the hit and run death of a 14-year-old child last year, led to the resignation demand.

Jordan Hare, 28, was arrested and charged with felony hit and run with injury or death in that incident. The state’s attorney reached a plea deal with Hare this month, and that felony charge was dropped to a misdemeanor failure to yield to a pedestrian charge.

In a statement, Roetzel said new evidence did not support the hit and run charge. Hare’s plea hearing and sentencing is slated for Dec. 18.

No arrests were made at the administration building Tuesday.

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C.J. Keene is a Rapid City-based journalist covering the legal system, education, and culture