1 dead as arrests made in Oregon
Print Edition
Law enforcement officers arrested the leaders of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge as part of a dispute over public lands in the Western US, prompting gunfire and leaving one man dead during a traffic stop along a highway in Oregon’s frozen high country.
The arrest took place on Tuesday as militant leader Ammon Bundy and his followers were reportedly heading to a community meeting at the senior center in John Day, about 110 kilometers north of Burns, to address local residents to discuss their views on federal management of public lands.
Bundy’s group, which has included people from as far away as Arizona and Michigan, seized the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on January 2. The group wants federal lands turned over to local authorities.
The confrontation came amid increasing calls for law enforcement to take action against Bundy for the illegal occupation of the wildlife refuge. They previously had taken a hands-off approach, reflecting lessons learned during bloody standoffs at Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho, during the 1990s.
In a statement, the FBI and Oregon State Police said agents had made a total of eight arrests on Tuesday, including Bundy.
Oregon State Police confirmed that its troopers were involved in the traffic-stop shooting. One of those arrested, described only as a man, suffered non-life-threatening wounds, the agencies said. Another man “who was a subject of a federal probable cause arrest” died, they said. The agencies said they would not release further information pending identification by the medical examiner.
The Oregonian reported that Arizona rancher Robert “LaVoy” Finicum was the person died, citing the man’s daughter. The 55-year-old was a frequent and public presence at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, often speaking for the group at news conferences.
Arianna Finicum Brown confirmed her father’s death to the paper, saying “he would never ever want to hurt somebody, but he does believe in defending freedom and he knew the risks involved.”
It was unclear how many people remained in the buildings at the refuge. Late Tuesday night there was no obvious police presence there and Oregon Governor Kate Brown asked for “patience as officials continue pursuit of a swift and peaceful resolution.”
Brand Thornton, one of Bundy’s supporters, said he left the refuge on Monday and wasn’t sure what those remaining would do. “The entire leadership is gone,” he said. “I wouldn’t blame any of them for leaving.” Thornton called the arrests “a dirty trick” by law enforcement.
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