Member of the Arizona civilian border patrol arrested for pistol whipping an illegal couple

A member of the civilian border patrol group Ranch Rescue was arrested in Douglas this morning on charges stemming from a Texas illegal imprisonment case, an FBI spokeswoman said. Casey Nethercott was picked up by FBI agents and Douglas Police officers and charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Herskovitz said.

Ranch Rescue is currently conducting patrols on a private ranch in Douglas. The Texas-based group started Arizona operations earlier this year.

Nethercott is accused of pistol whipping and holding an El Salvadoran couple against their will in March. The immigrants were set free because the U.S. Border Patrol didn't respond to Ranch Rescue's calls, the organization said at the time of the incident.

Douglas police assisted the FBI during today's arrest, said Det. Mark Wilkinson of the Douglas Police Department.

Herskovitz did not know what Nethercott was doing in the Douglas area but Ranch Rescue has conducted several operations there.

Immigrant rights activists consider them the most extreme among several patrol groups.

A spokesman for Ranch Rescue, Jack Foote, said Nethercott's arrest was news to him.

"My understanding is that his attorney was ill and working to get those charges removed," Foote said.

Ranch Rescue's operations in Douglas are now aimed at constructing a facility to house volunteers for future operations.

Foote's organization is contributing the labor and the ranch owner is contributing the materials, agreeing to allow Ranch Rescue members to stay there for future operations.

Greetings. As it seems my deposition is the topic of discussion, I thought it a good time to register and jump in. If you ever get over to AR15.com, I'm "Backstop" there. Stop in and say "Hi!"

Ragged- they sure beat you up on AR15.com, eh? Some folks there will not listen to the truth. Especially if it rains on their parade. Brings back memories, huh? You and Libertylass have some tough feelings; I'm staying out of it.

The facts:

1. I am the "DS" that libertylass revered to in her post.
2. I am a former Ranch Rescue member.
3. I was subpoenaed by Morris Dees. My deposition was 3 hours long. He told me I deviantly would be called to testify at the trail.
4. Morris Dees had copies of every Ranch Rescue(RR) chat. He also had copies of some of my emails. One email in particular was sent to only one person, and Dees had a copy. He also had a copy of a few of the RR Yahoo Group emails. He also had a copy of my resignation letter.
5. Two ATF agents came to my house and interviewed me. I was told by them on another accession that someone in RR had access to everyone in RR computers (hack). So there was a mole- or so it seems.
6. I spent many weekends on the landowner's property, even after the alleged beatings. I was not there during the alleged beatings. After the arrest of Nethercott and Connor, I continued to work on the ranch, at the landowner's request, until mid May. I was in contact with the sheriff and the Border Patrol in Hebbronville each weekend. The last weekend or so that I was there, the sheriff suggested that we devise a plan to catch the coyote- the guy transporting the illegals. It never came to fruitions as the lawsuits soon appeared. Frankly, I'm intimately familiar with the illegal traffic on the landowner's property. And there's a bunch!
7. Morris Dees called me on Friday 28 Nov and said that Nethercott was in custody.
8. Dees sent a copy of my deposition to Ragged Warrior. Dees sent me a copy of the note he sent to Ragged Warrior.
9. Liberylass, myself and another individual started forming a new group, "Paladin Group." There were various reasons it failed. On my part, I had a disagreement with this individual (not Libertylass) and quit. There are some things I will not tolerate. Libertylass quit shortly thereafter, and the group folded.
10. Ragged- as far as the International Coord for RR goes, Libertylass told him some items in confidence. He agreed not to repeat them. He broke that confidence by relating those items to you. When you and I spoke on the phone, you at least had the integrity to admit this. I emailed the Int'l Coord, and called him out on his failure to abide by his word. He has never responded. Before he went back on his word, he wanted me to serve Jack Foote with legal papers for him, and help him find Foote's house. I declined, of course.
11. As far as Foote outnumbering those men in black pj's 3-1, that is incorrect. They actually outnumbered us. I believe we only had 6 men in the immediate vicinity. I was the one who sat in the door blind all night, and first spotted them. There were 7-12 of them. Not the 25 that Foote has reported in numerous places. After seeing them and relaying by radio their direction of travel to Foote, I ran about 1/4 mile, and positioned myself so that I could see two lanes of sender's. I figured I couldn't catch them, but at least I could radio which one of two avenues of travel they were going. Meanwhile, Foote was trying to organize his, uh, men. It was a complete tactical failure. He started beating the brush approx 1/2 mile too far west of where I was. I radioed and told him he needed to hurry farther east, but to no avail. It's a long story, but you get the picture. Foote appears to be a textbook field man, with limited experience, and with no ability to improvise quickly.
12. Eric Boye, a French journalist, interviewed me in Feb, I believe. He has since dropped off the face of the planet, and will not answer my emails.
13. Ken Jarecke, of US News and World Report, (along with Boye) were out at the landowner's ranch when I was. Jarecke has since published an article. Jarecke took numerous photos of me while I was wearing a sleeve and working Nethercott's Rottweiler. I've called Jarecke numerous times, but he doesn't return my calls. I'd like a few of those copies. Ken, if you're out there, get back with me, eh? :]
14. Fotte and Nethercott have borrowed money and equipment from numerous people with the promise of return. They have not lived up to the promises. I understand a small amount of money has been paid back, but the amount of debt should warrant limited travel/operations on the part of RR until these debts are paid. The Int'l Coord stated he was filing a claim against them. At this point, I wouldn't believe him.
15. There is so much more, but you get the picture. I would advise everyone thinking of joining his group to think again. The initial premise of RR is great, but the practical application is terrible.
16. Everything stated above is a matter of public record, so I haven't related any "secrets."
17. My circle of trusted friends in this area of activism has dwindled, so now Libertylass is the last one.

Anyway, hope I cleared the air on some items. Heck, I'd even answer some questions for those who are still interested in joining RR.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!

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