Ramapough Lenape Chief Arrested By Mahwah Police In New Jersey

MAHWAH, NJ — A local chief of one of New Jersey's native tribes — the Ramapough Lenape — was arrested in Mahwah Tuesday on a trespassing charge, police confirmed.

Ramsey-based attorney Lydia Cotz said Wednesday that Chief Dwaine Perry's arrest was unfair, and that he will fight the charge in court next month.

She said he has been the victim of a power struggle over his title for some time.

Members of a local group voted to strip Perry of the title of chief in spring, according to a statement released by the group last month.

Some time after the vote, they removed photos of him at the Ramapough Community Center, says Cotz.

Cotz said that when Perry went there to restore them on Tuesday, police showed up and arrested him.

"We believe this was a wrongful arrest on the part of the Mahwah Police Department," she said. "We believe Chief Perry will be vindicated from this unfortunate situation."

Mahwah Police Captain Michael Blondin said in a statement for Patch, "He was charged with one count of trespassing on a criminal complaint and released a short time later. As for the statements made by Mr. Perry’s attorney, the charge against Mr. Perry is an accusation as a result of the investigation by responding officers at the time they were requested to the location."

He added, "Mr. Perry is innocent until proven guilty and will be afforded his moment in court in the near future."

Cotz said Perry has a court date on Aug. 5.

Of the police, she said, "Who are you to come up here and take a side? This is a civil matter. He should have never been arrested."

The members who voted against him released a statement last month accusing him of fiscal improprieties.

Cotz said he was not charged with any related crime, and that he had first accused other people of similar improprieties. She called the vote a "coup."

A press release on the web from the Ramapough Lenape Council, dated June 1, says, "The Tribal Council of the Ramapough Lenape Nation convened a lawfully noticed disciplinary hearing pursuant to Article V of the 2004 Amended Bylaws."

They added, "Following formal deliberations in the presence of outside legal counsel, the council voted unanimously to permanently remove, ban, and disqualify former Chief Dwaine C. Perry from holding any current or future office. This decision was not made lightly."

Cotz said that Perry was involved in a similar power struggle back in 2004. After he sued, his title was restored, she said.

"We expect he will be vindicated of these charges, and restored to his title of chief," she said.