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A district court judge in Santa Fe ruled that New Mexico state police do not have jurisdiction over Santa Fe Indian School land. Since the Indian School is owned and run by New Mexico's 19 Pueblos, it falls under the definition of Indian Country and the state does not have civil or criminal jurisdiction over the land. The judge dismissed a year old set of charges of resisting arrest and creating a disturbance against state Director of Indian Affairs Regis Pecos (Cochiti Pueblo), since the alleged charges occured on school grounds. The Santa Fe Police department will now seek official permission from the area pueblos in order to respond to emergency situations at the school.

Get the Story:
Pecos Charges Dismissed (Albuquerque Journal 4/12)

Relevant Links:
New Mexico Office of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Related Story:
BIA releases documents on Regis Pecos (Tribal Law 4/5)