A group calling itself the Latgawa Native American Indian Tribe is being investigated by law enforcement authorities in Oregon.

Police in Central Point searched the home of John Newkirk, the president of the group. Paperwork and a computer hard drive were seized as part of an investigation to determine whether any laws are being broken.

Newkirk acknowledges his group isn't federally recognized. But he says they have the authority to arrest their own members.

"We do not have to be federally recognized to do what we do," Newkirk told The Mail Tribune. "All we need is other tribes to recognize us. We communicate with them all the time."

Get the Story:
Police investigate group's 'tribal' laws (The Mail Tribune 7/12)

Relevant Links:
Latgawa Native American Indian Tribe - http://latgawa.mind.net