Blackfoot Mayor, Police Department call for the resignation of Sheriff Craig Rowland

Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll | Courtesy photo
BLACKFOOT — Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll is calling upon Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland to resign and publically apologize.
The Idaho Attorney General charged Rowland Tuesday with two felonies and a misdemeanor after he allegedly assaulted a youth group who left a thank you note at his home. When speaking with investigators about the incident, Rowland allegedly made disparaging remarks about people from the nearby Fort Hall Reservation.
Rowland took a two-week leave of absence but returned to the job two weeks ago.
“In order to protect the integrity of our Law Enforcement Agencies, the City of Blackfoot and the Blackfoot Police Department call for the immediate resignation and public apology to the Fort Hall community by Sheriff Craig Rowland,” Carroll said in his statement.
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes called for Rowland’s resignation and a public apology Thursday. Carroll is now the first city official to also call for a resignation and is the first to speak out about the allegations of assault upon the youth group.
RELATED | Sheriff charged with felony aggravated assault after allegedly threatening youth group with gun
“A trusted law enforcement officer has admitted to physically assaulting a neighbor and threatening her with his service handgun,” Carroll said. “In a subsequent interview with an officer of the court, Sheriff Rowland provided information that was corroborated through interviews with those passengers in the accosted automobile.”
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The three Bingham County Commissioners have individually issued statements following the disparaging comments but none of them addressed the fact that their Sheriff is charged with felony aggravated assault, felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor exhibition of a gun. They have not said whether Rowland should resign or remain in office.
Rowland’s attorney Justin Oleson attacked EastIdahoNews.com for publishing statements included in court documents and said this news organization is a tabloid that wishes to cause “drama and unrest.”
“That statement was taken completely out of context by the investigator and East Idaho News,” Oleson said to EastIdahoNews.com “It appears that occurred so that Sherriff (sic) Rowland’s name could be further slandered and his reputation tarnished by the media in an attempt to sway the jury of public opinion. Sherriff (sic) Rowland has had a good working relationship with the Shoshone Bannock Tribes and Tribal Members and has the utmost respect for his law-abiding neighbors on the reservation.”
RELATED | Sheriff under investigation after allegedly threatening church youth group and leader
Idaho Law limits Bingham County’s actions against a sheriff accused of a crime. The law states the officeholder would only be removed if convicted of a felony or any public offense involving a violation of their oath of office.
Rowland’s first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 22.
Read Carroll’s entire letter here:

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Source: eastidahonews.com