Takeover Day 39: More holdout videos; Palmer investigated

Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer is under investigation by the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association after calls flooded their office.

“This is probably one of the highest, if not the highest issue that we’ve had calls and emails on,” OSSA Executive Director John Bishop told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday..

The investigation comes after Palmer was scheduled to meet with Ammon Bundy and other leaders of the armed occupation late last month. On their way to the meeting, Bundy and others were arrested, and LaVoy Finicum was fatally shot.

The OSSA is now looking into Palmer’s actions and if they violated the organization’s bylaws.

“We’re in uncharted waters here,” Bishop said.

Even if OSSA decides to take action, it would be symbolic only and would not impact Palmer’s job.

On Day 39 of the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters outside Burns, the four remaining occupiers released more videos Tuesday on their YouTube channel.

David Fry confirmed that electricity has been cut at the headquarters and that the group now stays outside, using generators.

The occupiers refuse to turn themselves in and say charges must be dropped for them to agree to leave.

“You don’t give up what’s right,” said Sean Anderson.

Fry said the FBI gave him a flip phone without access to the Internet. He did not disclose how he is able to post more videos to YouTube.

“They took away all of our smartphones and gave us this flip phone that doesn’t even have speakers on it,” Fry said.

Fry also confirmed that electricity to the compound has been cut and the group is using generators.

Anderson also mentioned Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Sheriff David Clarke as a supporter of their cause. Clarke has mentioned the group before in his online radio program.

“Maybe if the state of Oregon, and its officials and its political class and its sheriff had done something for the Hammond family, maybe people would not have had to come from afar to stick up for principle,” Clarke said.

The demands by the remaining occupiers: Drop all charges against them, and release the Hammonds, Bundy and the other jailed occupiers. They also want the FBI to leave Oregon.

Fry has been vocal against abortion, and his influence on the group became visible, as the topic is a key talking point in some of their videos.

“(Abortion) is murder,” Anderson said.

Fry also talked about his fear of getting arrested by the FBI.

“It’s a gamble to go out there,” Fry said.