Posted on 01/27/2016 7:23:04 AM PST by The All Knowing All Seeing Oz
BURNS – Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, the spokesman of the refuge occupation, was shot and killed after he charged police during a roadside stop north of Burns on Tuesday, according to a man on Facebook who claims to be the driver of one of two vehicles involved in the highway shooting.
Mark McConnell posted a video to Facebook Wednesday morning, recounting the Tuesday afternoon scene that led to Finicum's death and the subsequent arrest of eight people involved in the Jan. 2 takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
His account emerged as police established new checkpoints on roads leading to the refuge, where an unknown number of occupiers remained. Police said only local property owners would be allowed through. The number and exact location of the checkpoints couldn't immediately be established.
Seven of those arrested Tuesday were taken overnight to Portland, where they were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
They included Ammon E. Bundy, 40, of Emmett, Idaho; his brother, Ryan C. Bundy of Bunkerville, Nevada; Ryan W. Payne, 32, of Anaconda, Montana; Brian Cavalier, 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada; Shawna J. Cox, 59, of Kanab, Utah; Joseph D. Oshaughnessy, 43, of Cottonwood, Arizona; and Peter T. Santilli, 50, of Cinncinati.
An eighth person, Jon Ritzheimer, surrendered to police in Arizona.
They were each charged with conspiracy to interfere with a federal official, a felony.
In his video, McConnell said Ammon Bundy and Cavalier were in the vehicle he was driving to John Day for a community meeting. He said Finicum was driving a pickup that carried Ryan Bundy, Payne, Cox and an 18-year-old girl.
He said as they traveled on U.S. 395 police vehicles pulled in behind them and stopped them. McConnell said he was removed by police first, then Ammon Bundy then Cavalier.
He said Finicum's pickup was stopped about 200 yards away, and one passenger already was on the ground in handcuffs.
McConnell said Payne and Cox later recounted how Payne and Finicum got into a "heated discussion" about what to do.
"LaVoy was passionate about this, about the movement," McConnell said.
McConnell said he noticed movement, and Finicum "took off" in the pickup with the remaining passengers. He said Payne and Cox described encountering a police roadblock about a mile north on the highway and apparently tried to get around it, becoming stuck in the snow.
"When he exited the vehicle, the rear wheels were still spinning," McConnell said. "He charged at law enforcement" and was shot.
McConnell disputed earlier accounts on social media that Finicum was shot while on his knees with his hands up.
McConnell said he and the 18-year-old were taken to Burns for questioning and later released.
His account couldn't be immediately confirmed, but several details matched accounts from law enforcement sources.
Meantime, the status of those at the refuge was unclear early Wednesday as the FBI and Oregon State Police set up the checkpoints. Late Tuesday, they established roadblocks near the refuge headquarters, parking a large front-end loader across Sod House Lane.
The FBI was negotiating into the night for the remaining occupiers to leave. Several were allowed to leave without arrest.
"The containment procedure involves a series of checkpoints established along key routes into and out of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge," the agencies said in a joint news release.
A news conference was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Burns. U.S. Attorney Billy Williams, FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Bretzing and Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward were to address reporters.
You may be right. You may not be right.
See - the fibbies on the scene will draw pictures
= = =
Better yet, they will sketch it out in the snow, which they will bring back to the command center, just to find it has melted. (Global Warming)
I would think they were monitoring all communications. It would be naive to think anything less.
I read an article which said they had some 200 vehicles there, drones, and other assets. It is very likely that footage will never go public, if it was recorded.
However, when there are that many massed against you, there is only one reason: the take down.
Any privately obtained video may prove to be key to sorting out what happened there.
I am a former firefighter/EMS, and have long thought a drone with thermal imaging would be fantastic for looking for lost people, especially here in winter--if it is flying weather. Thermal differences, even with the hypothermic, are generally pretty high, and with the little ones, minutes count.
Just for the record the standoff and shooting at Ruby Ridge happened on August 21-31, 1992 on GHW Bush's watch. Also the ATF's planning for the Waco/Koresh operation began in July ‘92 about six months before Bubba took office.
I have utter and complete faith and confidence the feds will lie their way out.
BTW, would thermal imaging pick up feds? Them being reptiles and all.
Oklahoma City was blamed on Rush and talk radio. Clinton got a second term from it.
Get a grip; Clinton’s second term opponent was the grouchy Bob Dole, a fine man, but totally incapable of generating much support for the Presidency...Clinton would’ve won the election without even trying...
HMMMmmm...
...with a hand grenade in his hand.
...with a 100 round UZI blazing away.
...with a flamethrower spurting hot, liquid DEATH!!!
...yelling "SIC 'EM!!" to his pack of rabid pit bulls.
Finally, some real partial news, not rumors.
Don't ALL these guys drive BIG 4*4's??
You want VIDEO???
Don’t you KNOW that VIDEO caused the BENGHAZI incident??
Sounds like someone is INTERFERRING in a Federal investigation!
Sorry; but the FOIA covers those things that are NOT part of an 'ongoing' investigation.
Oh; and National Security.
Besides, damaging information can be redacted. More black sheets of paper, if and when they are finally produced.
He didn’t charge the Cops, that’s for sure.
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