County sheriff asks NIGC to close Soboba casino

Wednesday, July 30, 2008  

Tensions between the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department don't seem to have eased following the signing of a mediation agreement.

Citing a lack of cooperation from the tribe, Sheriff Stanley Sniff is asking the National Indian Gaming Commission to shut down the Soboba Casino. He says the tribe is blocking his deputies from patrolling the reservation.

Sniff also says the tribe is prone to violence. At least one county official has blamed tribal leaders for high rates of crime on the reservation.

The tribe denied Sniff's claims. "At no time has the Riverside County Sheriff's Department been denied access either to the casino or on the reservation," the tribe said in a statement.

Get the Story:
Riverside County sheriff calls for closure of Soboba tribe's casino (The Los Angeles Times 7/30)
pwday
Sheriff: Soboba should have its gaming license suspended (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 7/30)
Riverside County sheriff asks U.S. to shut Soboba Casino (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 7/30)
pwpwd
Suspend Soboba's Gaming License, Sheriff Says (CBS 7/29)