Stando≠ leads to closure of casino

A federal judge shuts the California facility after a tribal dispute.

coarsegold, calif. » A federal judge closed a central California casino after an armed showdown between tribal factions caused gamblers to flee with chips left on the tables.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill, acting on an emergency request by the state attorney general, set no date for the possible reopening of the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, about 40 miles north of Fresno, The Fresno Bee reported. He scheduled a hearing forWednesday.

The National Indian Gaming Commission also ordered the casino closed, declaring a threat to public safety that could result in serious injury or death.

A faction that was forced out of the casino to a nearby tribal business center in August returned Thursday night. According to the gaming commission, each faction controlled different parts of the casino and was unwilling to leave as Friday wore on.

Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said about 500 people fled the casino Thursday night. He said he worried forweeks about escalating tensions and had asked state and federal officials for help.

The sheriff’s office negotiated with about 20 armed members after the casino cleared, Anderson said. There were no arrests, and no onewas injured seriously enough to be hospitalized.

The gaming commission said itwould close the casino if the tribe failed to provide audits and other financial documents by Oct. 27.

Vernon King, treasurer for the tribal council led by the faction that was ousted from the casino, said his group wanted to recover audit information and avoid a shutdown later this month.