Chief charged following casino raid

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The chief of the White Bear band in southeastern Saskatchewan has been charged by the RCMP in the wake of the police raid on the reserve's unlicensed casino.

Chief Bernard Shepherd, Brian Standingready, Susan Alsteen and the band's American casino equipment supplier, Alan King, have all been charged with keeping a common gaming house contrary to the Criminal Code.

Shepherd, Standingready and King have been charged with keeping gaming machines and importing gaming machines. Standingready and King were also charged with having control of money relating to the keeping of gaming machines.

Shepherd resigned as chief March 30, saying he could not be an effective leader with criminal charges hanging over his head. A few days later, however, he reinstated himself as the band's leader.

The charges came one week after local RCMP seized gambling equipment in a pre-dawn raid on the reserve March 22.

An unknown number of RCMP officers, carrying high-powered rifles, and accompanied by police dogs, raided the casino at around 4 a.m.

Some casino employees said the police were heavily armed and wearing masks when they burst into the casino. Because they didn't immediately identify themselves as RCMP, some employees thought they were being robbed.

RCMP officials denied the strong-arm tactics but refused to say how many officers took part in the raid or what methods were used in the confiscation of casino equipment.

A total of 115 video lottery terminals and slot machines, as well as six blackjack tables, were taken following the raid.

The RCMP had allowed the casino to operate for nearly a month without interfering, police spokesman David Hoeft said.

Officers did not close the gaming house when it first opened because they needed time to complete their investigation.

Shepherd and the three others charged are expected to appear in Carlyle provincial court April 14.

The raid will not stop the band from operating a casino on the reserve, the chief said. He has already made arrangements to purchase new equipment to re-open the casino.

Justice Minister Bob Mitchell warned, however, that any attempt to re-open a casino would result in further police raids.

Mitchell and Gaming Minister Eldon Lautermilch met with Shepherd and Saskatchewan Federation of Indians Nations head Roland Crowe March 25 to resume talks over reserve-based gambling.

The two sides agreed at that meeting to arrange a framework for future formal negotiations.

The White Bear reserve is located 200 kilometres southeast of Regina.