HAVRE, Mont. (AP) — The suspended chairman of the Chippewa Cree Tribe was arrested Wednesday while attempting to return to his office, an escalation of his dispute with the governing council that is trying to oust him.

Ken Blatt St. Marks was led away in handcuffs a day after tribal Judge Duane Gopher lifted a temporary restraining order that had barred St. Marks from tribal headquarters, the Havre Daily News reported .

Tribal officials said earlier Wednesday that St. Marks would be removed if he attempted to return to his duties, despite the judge's order. They said the Chippewa Cree Business Council's suspension of St. Marks was still in effect.

It wasn't immediately clear what charges the chairman faces.

On Friday, the council suspended St. Marks for what it called violations of his duty, a lack of ethical responsibility and a disregard for his obligations. It did not detail the allegations.

St. Marks said his opponents want to get rid of him because he has been working with the federal government in a corruption investigation and has questioned tribal finances.

The chairman contends the tribal council's suspension is not enforceable because it was approved in an unannounced, illegal council meeting. Tribal officials say they complied with tribal laws in suspending St. Marks.

The council plans to hold a hearing on the matter Monday, and St. Marks said he expects the panel to fire him then.

"They tried, convicted and executed me," he said. "Now they are going to give me hearing."

He said he would challenge his dismissal in federal court.

St. Marks' supporters say he should be protected by federal whistleblower legislation. St. Marks said he has asked the U.S. Department of Justice's inspector general's office to intervene.