Federal Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Following Fatal Police Pursuit in North Dakota

A federal complaint alleges a BIA officer negligently struck 30 year old Russell Charette Jr. during a high speed chase on the Turtle Mountain Reservation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 25, 2026, 10:24 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Jamestown Sun

Circumstances of the High Speed Pursuit

According to the federal complaint Russell Charette was a passenger in a vehicle that became involved in a pursuit initiated by a BIA officer whose identity has not been released in court filings. During the chase Charette reportedly attempted to exit the moving vehicle by opening the door. At some point in the pursuit he either fell or exited the vehicle while it was still in motion and came to rest on or near the roadway. While attempting to reach a place of safety away from the gravel road Charette was struck by the pursuing officer's vehicle.

Allegations of Negligence and Obscured Vision

The complaint argues that the BIA officer acted negligently by persisting in a high speed chase despite having a severely obscured field of vision. The plaintiff claims that a massive cloud of dust on the gravel road behind the suspect's vehicle effectively blinded the officer. By continuing the pursuit under these conditions the lawsuit alleges the officer showed a gross disregard for obvious risks to life and public safety. The impact occurred at a high rate of speed causing catastrophic blunt force trauma to Charette who later passed away at a hospital.

Bureau of Indian Affairs Pursuit Policy

The legal filing cites specific policies from the BIA Office of Justice Services which mandate that officers must terminate a pursuit when the risks to the public outweigh the immediate need to apprehend a suspect. The complaint accuses the officer of failing to adhere to these safety protocols when the pursuit became unreasonably dangerous. This failure to stop the chase is central to the claim of negligence and the subsequent liability of the federal government for the actions of its employee.