Cowlitz Tribe sues to block release of video of alleged attack

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

The Cowlitz Tribe owns ilani, a gaming facility, in Ridgefield, Washington. Photo: ilani

Authorities in Washington are investigating an alleged attack at the casino owned by the Cowlitz Tribe.

The incident occurred at ilani on October 6, The Columbian reported. The tribe quickly turned over surveillance video to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office as part of the investigation, the paper said.

But after learning that the sheriff was going to release the footage to the casino patron who said he was attacked, the Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Authority filed a lawsuit in state court. It seeks to permanently bar the video from being provided to Richard Christie, who was named as a co-defendant in the case, the paper reported.

The case is Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Authority v. Clark County Sheriff’s Office, No. 18-2-02118-2. A judge will be hearing arguments on the tribe's request for an injunction this Friday morning, according to court records.

Posted by ilani on Thursday, April 27, 2017

In related news, a longtime leader of the tribe is under investigation for animal cruelty and neglect. Authorities in Lewis County found a horse, dogs and other animals in squalid conditions at the home of Roy Wilson, The Longview Daily News and The Centralia Daily Chronicle reported.

Wilson, 91, has since resigned all of his positions within the tribe, according to the reports. He has been asked to account for his activities at an upcoming council meeting.

As a spiritual leader of the Cowlitz people, Wilson has been a frequent presence at almost every tribal event, including the opening of ilani in April 2017.