Santo Domingo woman sentenced for assaulting federal officer

A Santo Domingo woman was sentenced to 17 months in prison for assaulting a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer during a traffic stop.

According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2021, an officer from the Bureau of Indian Affairs stopped a car driven by Henryetta John, 31, for driving 15 mph in a 45 mph zone in the Pueblo of Santo Domingo. Initially, shesped up before eventually stopping. When the officer approached her, her eyes were bloodshot and she had difficulty producing a driver’s license. Johnfailed a field sobriety test and admitted to consuming alcohol.

The officer arrested Johnfor driving under the influence. At first she complied, but when the officer attempted to place Johnin handcuffs, she slipped the handcuffs and physically assaulted the officer, causing them to roll down a hillside. The officer sustained multiple injuries as a result of the altercation.

Then the officer climbed up the hill to her police vehicle and called for assistance while Johnfled. A K9 unit and other officers responded and pursued her at that time. They found her hiding under a tree. She refused to respond to commands to come out from under the tree, so they attempted to use the police dog to retrieve her. John then struck the police dog in the face. The K9 officer then put a cuff on John, and she tried to pull away and resist, but the officer and the police dog removed her from the tree and arrested her.

John pled guilty to assault on a federal officer in August.

After completing her term of imprisonment, John will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.