The leader of Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico prevented police officers from arresting a burglary suspect at the tribe's casino, KOB reports.
Police in Albuquerque were working with tribal police to arrest Anthony Chavez, a repeat felon who is wanted for numerous burglaries. But Gov. Isaac Lujan wouldn't allow the operation at the Sandia Resort & Casino
to move forward, the station said.
"We absolutely disagreed with that decision but we respect the governor's decision that he didn't want us on tribal land. We know and we're trained through our academy that tribal land has a different jurisdiction, only federal authorities can go on that land to apprehend people," Albuquerque police department spokesperson Simon Drobik told KOB.
Tribal police were able to confiscate a stolen vehicle at the casino and Chavez was eventually arrested in Albuquerque a week later.
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(KOB 5/24)