Five people were arrested on Sunday in an incident that may or may not be tied to an ongoing leadership dispute within the Cayuga Nation of New York.

Police said a van was seen ramming a fence at the tribe's tobacco manufacturing facility. Four men and one teenage girl were arrested and charged with various crimes.

Clint Halftown, the official representative of the tribe, blamed the incident on his rivals. He said the five were part of the Unity Council, which claims to have removed Halftown from office.

The Unity Council, however, said it had nothing to do with the incident. Both sides said the people involved should be dealt with in the local justice system.

Get the Story:
5 arrested in incident at tribal facility in Seneca Falls (The Finger Lakes Times 5/12)
Halftown lashes out; Unity Council leaders disavow actions (The Finger Lakes Times 5/13)
Five arrested after van rams into fence, police car outside of Cayuga Nation facility (The Auburn Citizen 5/13)
Police car smashed, five charged, in incident at Cayuga Nation building (The Syracuse Post-Standard 5/14)
Unity Council leaders reach out to Seneca County board (The Finger Lake Times 5/14)

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WRVO: Cayuga Nation stuck in decade-long leadership dispute (05/06)
Cayuga Nation businesses remain closed amid leadership feud (5/1)
Cayuga Nation shuts down businesses amid leadership dispute (4/29)