LAPUSH — The Quileute tribe and Quillayute River Coast Guard Station are working to mend their relationship following an incident Feb. 12 which led to a small group of tribal members shouting obscenities at a Coast Guard team.
The incident occurred when members of the Coast Guard Law Enforcement Boarding Team from the station conducted a dockside inspection of a tribal-owned fishing boat, the Shilaily, after it returned from crabbing.
The incident escalated when less than a dozen tribal members, who were mostly related to the fisherman of the boat being searched, began shouting at and threatening the Coast Guardsmen, according to LaPush Police Chief Jennifer Roth
Eventually, some tribal members were arrested by police officers, and at least one person is still under investigation by the FBI for minor assault of a federal officer.
Roth said because the incident is still under investigation, she can’t comment on how many people were arrested or who is under federal investigation — she said she can’t identify any of the people involved.
“Since that time, we have received reassurance from the tribe that they do support the Coast Guard and have received a letter from the Tribal Council,” said Capt. Bill Peterson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles.