Arrest of Paiute police chief, husband sparks tribal protests

Greg Tuttle

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000 | 11:23 a.m.

The arrest of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribal Police Chief and her husband, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper, early Saturday morning for an alleged assault on a tribal council member sent a shiver down the backs of some members protesting Monday outside the Paiute smoke shop.

"This is terrible, and now it's to the point where someone could get killed," said Marie Wilson, who joined about a dozen people carrying picket signs protesting recent actions by tribal officials.

Tanya Carter-Means, the tribal police chief who also serves on the tribal council, and her husband, Roger Means, were arrested and charged by Metro Police officers early Saturday with battery and domestic violence. The couple were arrested at a home on Aztec Cliffs Court owned by Lucille Campa, a tribal council member and Tayna Carter-Means' cousin.

Metro Sgt. Chris Darcy said Monday police were called to the home shortly after midnight Friday and were told conflicting stories of an altercation between Campa and two of her guests. But evidence suggested Tanya Carter-Means and her husband assaulted Campa, who suffered scratches on her face and a cut above one eye, Darcy said.

The couple was booked into the Las Vegas City Jail after their arrest at the scene. Tanya Carter-Means posted bail of $5,115, and Roger Means posted bail of $3,115, according to jail records. Both were released Saturday evening.

Tribal officials declined to comment on the incident Monday, and it was unclear what, if any, action has been taken against Tanya Carter-Means. Roger Means, a 15-year veteran of the patrol, has been placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the Metro investigation, a Highway Patrol spokesman said Monday.

Darcy said it was unclear what started the conflict, but alcohol was present at the social gathering hosted by Campa, whose husband also works for the tribal police department. He was apparently not home at the time of the alleged assault.

But while police continue to sort out the incident, some tribal members said Monday they believe the violent altercation between tribal leaders was the result of a year-long simmering dispute over tribal membership that threatens to reach the boiling point.

Last June, the seven-member tribal council voted to kick out 14 tribal members who they said did not have the one-quarter blood heritage necessary for enrollment in the Las Vegas Paiute tribe. The action cut the tribal membership rolls from 54 adults to 40.

Since then, the disenrolled members have organized against the tribal council and have hired an attorney to fight their case in tribal court. They claim the tribal council's actions were illegal and about a dozen people began protesting Friday outside the tribal smoke shop on Main Street.

The group plans to move its protest to the federal courthouse today.

Once destitute, Las Vegas Paiute tribal members are now reaping financial success. The tribal-owned tax-free smoke shop has brought millions of dollars to the tribe, which is currently building a world-class resort on reservation land north of the Las Vegas Valley.

The benefits of tribal membership now include an annual disbursement of profits from tribal-owned businesses of about $100,000 per person.

But those among the protesters say the ouster of the 14 members was a power grab by tribal leaders based on a history of family feuds. Some protestors said they believe Campa was attacked when she refused to become involved in a plan to remove three more people from the tribal scrolls, including a former tribal council member and her two sisters.

"It's a pure disgrace," said Gloria Shearer, one of the protesters who said she is the target of disenrollment by the tribal council.