The Ute Indian Tribe has requested the U.S. Department of Justice investigate the “excessive use of force” on a group of Polynesian dancers and bystanders after the Uintah High School verses Union High School football game in October.

“These are not random or unusual incidents but an ongoing pattern of civil rights’ violations that must be halted,” the Ute Tribe Business Committee said in a statement.

The incident in reference is from Oct. 20 when two Roosevelt police officers used pepper spray and batons to disperse a crowd of Polynesian dancers and bystanders, in an effort to clear an exit from the football field.

Dancers say they were performing the traditional Maori war chant to cheer up the losing team, Union.

Police officers stated in an a police report that the stance of the men made it look like there was going to be riot. The Haka dance is a traditional war chant often performed at rugby games.

Ute Tribe Chairwoman Irene Cuch said the DOJ investigation is important because all law enforcement from both Duchesne and Uintah counties and also the reservation always use “harassment and excessive force.”

“We feel it’s important because throughout the years there’s been several civil rights violations of our tribal members by the police department it’s just not recently it’s always been,” Cuch said in an interview. “I think police need to be more reasonable they need to be more conscious rather than go to the extremes.”

Roosevelt Police Chief Rick Harrison declined to comment on the Ute Tribe’s request.

Following a department investigation the police officers were found to have followed police policy and laws in the “use of force.”

Also as part of the investigation, all officers will now have to undergo training in cultural traditions.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation public affairs specialist Debbie Dujanovic Bertram said the FBI generally doesn’t comment on requests for investigations.

Bertram did say if a person believes they are a victim of a federal crime and would like to file a complaint there are several ways to do so. People can submit a complaint by mail, or electronically by going to FBI.gov, or by calling the Salt Lake City Division at (801) 579-1400.