SDSU police officer facing potential lawsuit after alleged ‘violent’ altercation

An Emery woman is claiming her daughter, an Emery High School senior, was in a “violent” altercation with South Dakota State University police on campus on the night of Sept. 9, according to reports from The Collegian and Keloland.

According to several Facebook posts, Melissa Mentele said her daughter suffered dislocated bones in her hand and several scrapes and bruises when a UPD officer arrested her and her sister Lillian Mentele at 11:27 p.m. on Saturday. Melissa Mentele also said her daughter is currently being charged with resisting arrest.

Lillian Mentele tweeted the following morning that her sister had blown a .03 when she was breathalyzed by the officer. She also tweeted that she’s being charged with resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Neither of the women are SDSU students, but were walking on campus with friends when they were approached by the UPD officer.

Melissa Mentele said her family plans to pursue a civil suit and criminal charges, but won’t release any more information, per their attorney’s advice.

No report has been filed at the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office yet.

SDSU has reached out to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation to look into the allegations.

This story will be updated as more information is released.