Militia Leader Refuses Sheriff's Roadside Offer To End Standoff: "I Don't Need An Escort"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

On Tuesday, Harney County Sheriff David Ward told reporters it was time for Ammon Bundy and the group of militiamen occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to “leave the community, go home, and end this peacefully.”

Bundy, we noted, had no such plans.

The handful of armed men holed up in a remote bird sanctuary say they are standing up for state’s rights in a kind of ad hoc, haphazard rekindling of the Sagebrush Rebellion.

The proximate cause for the occupation was the (re)sentencing of Dwight Hammond and his son Steven, who a judge ruled should be sent back to jail in connection with fires the two lit in 2001 and 2006. Although the Hammonds aren’t protesting their sentence, Bundy wants to see them go free before the militiamen give Linda Beck (the biologist at whose desk Bundy now sits at Malheur) her office back.

(from left to right: Bundy, his bodyguard Wes, Dwight Hammond, and Linda Beck)

On Thursday, Sheriff Ward attempted to reason with the men.

In a scene right out of a (bad) movie, Bundy and his bodyguards drove to a “neutral location” that Reuters says was located “along a remote Oregon roadside,” for a meeting with the Sheriff.


In the meeting - which apparently lasted “about five minutes” - Ward offered the men safe passage out of the state if they agreed to cede control of the snowy federal outpost. 

In short, Bundy said no.

As you can see from the video, the Sheriff seems to be at a loss when it comes to figuring out exactly what it is Bundy wants, but he is convinced that it's not safe to open local schools until the standoff is resolved. "We pose no threat whatsoever to the people," Bundy insists. "It only takes one unstable person and we know that," Ward counters.

“Ward told Bundy that he was seeking a peaceful resolution to the nearly week-long standoff and offered to escort the occupiers out of Oregon,” Reuters writes. “But Bundy, saying that the sheriff had not addressed the occupiers' grievances, declined.” "We're being ignored sir," he can be heard saying.

Bundy also seems to have been offended by the notion that he needed a police escort to leave Oregon. "I'm not afraid to go out of state. I don't need an escort,” he later told reporters. Here's a bit more from the Oregonian:

The parley between Bundy and the sheriff lasted between five and 10 minutes and took place in the open, at the intersection of a state highway and the back route to the refuge. It was another in a series of twists and turns the past week that have drawn national and international attention to this sparsely populated high desert country.


Ward was accompanied to the remote location by Sheriffs Brian Wolfe of Malheur County and Andy Long of Tillamook County as well three rigs carrying heavily armed law enforcement officers.

 

Ward met Bundy on the side of Lava Bed Road, a handful of media surrounding the men. Bundy was accompanied by Ryan Payne, a self-styled militiaman from Montana.

 

Ward explained he was there to resolve the standoff. He said he didn't want anyone to get hurt.

 

"We need to find a peaceful resolution and get you guys out of here," he said.

 

Bundy, wearing his trademark cowboy hat, told Ward, "We mean no harm to anybody."

 

Bundy went into his oft-repeated comments about why the militants had arrived to take over the refuge.

 

"We're here for the people of Harney County," he said. "We're here because people were being ignored." He said citizens have complained over and over about federal land-use issues.

 

"Yet, sheriff, you would not address those concerns," Bundy said. "We're getting ignored again."

 

Ward replied, "I didn't come here to argue."

 

The men shook hands, Bundy and Payne returning to the small convoy that brought them to the scene on a gravel road roughly 20 miles east of the refuge. It was apparent Bundy brought a security detail with him.

 

Ward climbed into a sheriff's rig and headed off over back roads to a town hall meeting in the small community of Diamond. He met about 50 citizens there to talk about the refuge occupation and hear their concerns.

And so, there was no common ground to be found on Lava Bed Road near Highway 78. Only a cold (both figuratively and literally) handshake.

The Sheriff would later say that he believes Bundy doesn't feel like the standoff is being taken seriously. "I don't feel like they think they're getting enough attention yet," he remarked.

But while Bundy says he "doesn't need an escort" out of the state, he may get one anyway because as Ward cautiously warned the group on Thursday, "at some point, this is all going to have to be resolved."

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Fri, 01/08/2016 - 14:57 | 7018342 NevadaMirage
NevadaMirage's picture

It's interesting to see the contrast on various online forums of those who want to play III-percenter/militia/patriot and those who actually DO it. The Mall-ninja-percenters sure are having a meltdown about this.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:16 | 7018445 lex parsimoniae
lex parsimoniae's picture

Agreed, easy to sit back & carp about how they're 'not doing it right'. I'm guessing that if the complainers had been through what Bundy has, defeating the BLM's 40+ year land grab may also be their purpose in life.

Further; if the armchair cowboys had experienced what Ammon Bundy has, and then did nothing more to stop the same from happening to others, they would rightly be labeled as cowards.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:03 | 7018698 libertysghost
libertysghost's picture

What will you both do when they cut your power off and you can't post on here?

 

I'm assuming you are there...right?  Funny your profile pic seems to be sitting in an "armchair" the way it's cropped.  ;-)

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:23 | 7019148 12357111317
12357111317's picture

Did the parks actually grab some of Bundy's land, that Bundy bought and paid for?  If so, that would be different from the story I heard, and would change my opinion about the situation.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:01 | 7018367 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

Sounds like Bundy and Co. got set-up in a big way. Too bad. 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:08 | 7018405 conraddobler
conraddobler's picture

Yup.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:06 | 7018388 stonehands
stonehands's picture

The oath keepers, 3 percenters and sipsey streeters are guilty of giving comfort to the enemy.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:24 | 7019151 12357111317
12357111317's picture

What is a 3 percenter?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:55 | 7019256 Plata con Carne
Plata con Carne's picture

Founded by/term coined by Mike Vanderboegh, whose website/blog is called the Sipsey Street Irregulars.

He says that during the time of the American Revolution the majority of people in the colonies wanted to stay out of any troubles/remain neutral, or were still loyal to the King of England.  Only 3% of the population actually fought.  Hence the term 3%'er, aka Threepers, III.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 22:54 | 7020380 12357111317
12357111317's picture

Cool!  Thank you, Plata.  Yeah, George Washington was furious because he always got raw deals from his brokers/merchants in London, plus the Crown decided to renege on giving him land as reward for his military service in the French and Indian War.  It's always about money.  And land is money.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:07 | 7018395 conraddobler
conraddobler's picture

Provocations are designed to get reactions, if you do not supply the desired reaction, the provocations stand out for what they are better.  

Just a passing thought.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:09 | 7018398 In.Sip.ient
In.Sip.ient's picture

OK, I need an explanation... being way up here in Canada and all.

 

How does one get re-sentenced?

I'm thinking a pretty broad swath of laws

need to be violated ( by your prosecutors ) to

do that.  What gives here???

 

As for any frontal assaults on these militia types,

I don't think thats going to happen.  First its

very bad press, and second, I'm betting that

the FEDs "surrounding" these occupiers may in fact

be surrounded themselves...

I seem to recall some incident in the eastern US, where

the FEDs were informed by the militias that if they

entered some place... militia would "converge" and

self same FEDs wouldn't be "leaving"...

 

Anyway, please advise on this "re-sentencing" business.

 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:39 | 7018581 Chuckster
Chuckster's picture

You need to update what you thought were the laws here.  Everything that could be changed has been changed since 9/11.  The population just hasn't caught on yet.

I don't know how you re-educate a whole population when the government and news media want to keep them ignorant.  The message to the two that were re-sentenced was obey or things are going to get worse.  They both have basically stated they understand the situation.  I am waiting for the public to discover the fusion centers.  The government has went overboard explaining them on the internet.  They must have hired a PR firm.  They seem to have left out a few key facts.  I think when the public learns all the things going on it will blow up....big time.  Reasonable to assume the the sheriff is being advised by some of them.  That's why his actions don't seem to make much sense.  The same can be said for the appeal court judge.  What would you do if you were the judge.  You are either going to do what they suggest or your ass is now in the fire.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:10 | 7019094 In.Sip.ient
In.Sip.ient's picture

Obviously, I'm out of the "loop" here.

But...

"re-sentencing" seems like a formula for some

major prosecution of "authorities" including some

judges. 

 

And if your saying the law is only the law when you can

credibly wipe some civil servant(s) off the face of the

earth... your "law" needs some serious re-work... 'cuz

there be lotz o peeple who'd be happy to play that game...

 

Bundy would be the short pants end of that brigade.

 

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 23:04 | 7020393 12357111317
12357111317's picture

I think resentencing is something that can happen when:

1. you butt heads with the government.

1. the government tells you you have broken a gazillion laws and it will therefore try to put you in jail for a long time, UNLESS you plead guilty to a small charge (a "plea bargain")

2. the government's sentence for your small charge includes a requirement that you "behave better", which means that you stop butting heads.

3. nothing really changes, and you get angry at the government again, and start butting heads with the government again.

4. the government responds by deciding that you are not "behaving better" and that it is therefore "forced" to impose harsher penalties for your small charge, i.e., to "resentence" you.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:26 | 7019158 12357111317
12357111317's picture

This is why it is so important to vote.  Many judges are elected.  Those who vote, therefore, decide who gets to interpret the "laws".

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 23:26 | 7020418 12357111317
12357111317's picture

"The world is run by the people who show up": Matthew Dunlap.

Where I live, the Sheriff is locally elected, the Prosecuting Attorney is locally elected, and many of the Judges are locally elected.  I always vote.

But suit yourself.  "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later".

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:12 | 7018421 bluskyes
bluskyes's picture

Is the neighboring state out of the Fed's jurisdiction?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:17 | 7018453 Tzanchan
Tzanchan's picture

I used to wonder where the heck "White Privilege" came from, now I know. If these people were anything other than what they are the people doing the occupying probably would have taken the"law" into their own hands. People of Mexican, African or Arab origin doing this? They'd be blasted out of there in a New York Minute, By the way why isn't anybody blaming Jews for this, seems like the posters on this site have the ZOG in charge of every other ill of the world....just sayin'....

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:00 | 7018677 libertysghost
libertysghost's picture

You think?  How about Ferguson, MO...Baltamore, MD... and other examples of wanton destruction where police are told not to "engage"?  

 

Now your point about why it isn't "all being run by ZION?"  I know exactly what you mean there.  LOLOL  Some of that is just trolling here though.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 15:33 | 7018553 woolybear1
woolybear1's picture

any relation to Ted?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 16:05 | 7018709 MellonBreath
MellonBreath's picture

I want to know where the fuck is the drone and the Hell Fire missiles? That nigga Obama gots no objection to killin American citizens. And he could do it in the name of Allah for his loser father and whore mother. Let an inept black mother fucka show y'all how to kill some honkies. This much too important than to leave it up to some over paid federal sniper assassins. The nigga needs to go high tech on this one. He has to prove to America that White Lives Don't Matter.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:16 | 7019122 J Jason Djfmam
J Jason Djfmam's picture

According to the script, now one of the Bundy bunch will

flip out and kill the rest of them then commit suicide.

It's the way it always goes.

The gun grabbers handbook.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 17:38 | 7019188 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

What these folks should do is make damned sure there are 'eyes' on that scene 24/7 as long as it lasts...never mind the supporters with guns, get a shitload of supporters with CAMERAS and a Skype connection and position them ALL around, from every angle. If you can position a sniper, you can position a camera. Fly camera-drones overhead, they are commercially available now. Make sure that nothing happens that isn't caught and recorded somewhere by someone...

Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. But whatever DOES happen should be up on YouTube almost immediately, from numerous sources from various angles...it should be almost like live-streaming, it should be so fast...

The WORST thing would be for these guys to find themselves at the mercy of the Feds with no one recording anything except the Feds themselves, and a couple of hapless reporters or civilians with cell phones who happened to catch a lucky angle. The latter two would, of course, have their equipment immediately confiscated, and all we'd see is the official version.

And of course there is the matter of the location of the confrontation...now, I'll admit I'm no military tactician, but it does seem to me as though Mr. Bundy has chosen a most unfortunate setting to stage his protest. He appears to be rather cut-off and isolated up there with those Feds...which is why, if I were him, I'd get my ass on the phone and say fuck the guns, get some EYES around me! Unless he's happy with the idea of going down and having the Feds write the narrative of his last stand.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 18:50 | 7019456 22winmag
22winmag's picture

I smell a rat.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 09:37 | 7021287 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

the rat you smell is the tyrannical fascist government.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 18:53 | 7019461 Conax
Conax's picture

Some federal judge should file an order on those two prisoners, get them out on bail, then hold a public hearing about the case.  If the feds would agree to this, I bet the militia would stand down.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 10:06 | 7020202 Encroaching Darkness
Encroaching Darkness's picture

In.Sip.ient,

      There is a "guarantee" in the US Constitution about "double jeopardy", being sentenced (actually, being tried) twice for the same offense. The first judge was elderly, and sentenced the Hammonds on the last day he was in office. He EXPRESSLY REJECTED the application of "terrorist" sentencing guidelines for what the Hammonds did (after all, there was NOTHING destroyed except some grass, they set the fire ("backfire") to PREVENT additional wildfire threat to their own housing, and the backfire crossed over onto vacant Federal land). He gave them a light sentence, three months for the younger and one year for the elder. They served them.

     A NEW, NUTCASE Federal prosecutor (drawn from the CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES group) was chosen and appointed over the district. SHE DEMANDED A RE-SENTENCING because SHE felt the sentence was too light. (Later, she would RESIGN FOR HEALTH REASONS WHILE UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE DOJ OIG (internal watchdog) for HARASSMENT OF A SUBORDINATE. ) All this is in the newspapers in Oregon (links at Conservative Treehouse to the story).

     ALL THIS would reflect badly and require appeal to a higher court, but US Attorneys (like the NUTCASE) are APPOINTED BY OBAMA and we can't question the judgement of the Magic One. The Hammonds were threatened with transfer to a tougher prison farther away (a typical DOJ malice tool; arrested at your home in Cincinati? Do something we don't like? You're being transferred to Fed Hell in Miami, we'll see how many visitors you get there! And we'll tell the inmates you're a child molester instead of a tax protester, so they'll want to molest YOU more). The Hammonds were screwed by the BLM, the DOJ and the Obama Administration, so what could they do (at 73 years old!). They caved, after years of fighting the bastards.

     We should consider open season on BLM folks; they have earned the wrath of every American. And when the Crunch comes, hiding places will be few and far between.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 22:08 | 7020238 Angry Plant
Angry Plant's picture

This stand off is going to last months.

There is no easy out for ether side short of Obama issuing pardons.

The feds can rout them from park with ease but at the cost of starting a rebellion in deep woods of america against the feds.

The feds will win the fight in Oregon but them have to send every forest ranger to work in a MRAP and use six man teams instead of a single ranger to do there jobs because of fear of them being ambushed three states away.

The above is simply not something the feds want to risk happening so they will simply wait while using information warfare against the militias.  

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 00:31 | 7020560 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

My feeling, and it is usually right, is that the Bundy family and his close associates are real.

They are a rare bunch in a nation of brainwashed narsacistic people in denial, who actually

love this country deeply.

Uranus /Pluto are within one degree, this is the real Occupy not the one that Valerie Jarrett had Van Jones organized that lured people in with 60s style revolution, free gourmet food, models dressed as 60's Love Chicks, Kanye West, Michael Moore and others who hate American culture.

I know this for a fact from people I personally know very well.

It's not a standoff, it is a foreclosure action by the title holders of this land, the American people.

The Feds pretend to own that land, they don't we do.

Sat, 01/09/2016 - 00:55 | 7020673 PrimalScream
PrimalScream's picture

the offer from the Sheriff - free passage out of OR - was the best darn deal that Brady's group can ever hope to get. 

Whatever point they think they are making ... it's done.  They should have said YES and packed their bags.

It was also a super-smart movew by the Sheriff ... export the problem out of his state.

It's hard to know what the Gov't will do next.  But my guess is that they will ratchet up the pressure on Bundy, without getting anyone killed.  It wouldn't surprise me if the OR National Guard shows up very soon.

Every time Bundy speaks, his logic changes and his goals change. If Bundy and his friends wanted to introduce new evidence into the Hammond case, they didn't need any weapons.  They didn't need to occupy anything.  They only needed to have a peaceful press conference, and present news facts.  That's it.  But instead they are willing to push this incident to the point of bloodshed, to 'force the Court system to change',  Nothing adds up here.

They should have listened to the Sheriff.  He's got his head on straight. 

 

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