Harney County sheriff urges others not to join refuge ‘militants’

Harney County Sheriff David Ward said late Tuesday residents are invited to a community meeting Wednesday afternoon, and “strongly” discouraged others from joining the anti-government protesters occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge,.

“I want to invite those who live and work in Harney County to join me on Wednesday afternoon for a community meeting. We will gather at 4 pm at the Harney County Fairgrounds, Memorial Building, 69660 S. Egan Street,” Ward said in a statement.

“Today I met with some local media to help get the word out about this meeting. Tomorrow, I want to gather people together to talk about their security concerns and the disruptions that the behavior of the militants on the refuge are causing for our people. It is very important that Harney County citizens who feel strongly about getting these militants out of our county join with me in this effort.

“In addition, we strongly discourage others from joining those at the refuge. Due to safety concerns by the people of this community, I have asked for extra sheriff’s patrols to assist us in maintaining a safe environment for everyone. We realize the disruption to the community has been difficult, and that this is having an economic impact.

“If this goes any longer it will have an even greater impact to our tourism and economy. Community schools, government, and some businesses are shut down. They have promised to leave if our community wants them to. We want to see them go home to their families and consider how their actions affect this community. We all want a safe resolution to this situation, and to go back to our peaceful way of life.”

“As everyone knows, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge … is a federal facility. Therefore, aspects of this will be investigated by the federal government. My department will assist in the investigation. The Harney County Sheriff’s Department is working with the FBI, who is handling investigation of any federal violations occurring on the refuge.”

Ward, who sat down with NewsChannel 21’s Wanda Moore for an exclusive interview (see video above), also posted a new Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t80Vaz3tVM

Meanwhile, a member of the small, armed group that has been occupying the refuge said Tuesday he believes federal officials have issued warrants for the arrest of five group members, The Associated Press reported.

LaVoy Finicum, an Arizona rancher, told reporters Tuesday evening that he is one of the people who is a subject of the warrants, but he offered no details.

The FBI in Portland referred calls to the Harney County Joint Information Center, which said in a statement it had no information on arrests or arrest warrants and that authorities were “still working on a peaceful resolution.”

Finicum, holding a rifle and a backpack, told reporters he would stay at the entrance to the refuge overnight so authorities could find him. Ammon Bundy, a group leader, said they would take a defensive position, anticipating a possible raid.

The group calling itself Citizens for Constitutional Freedom said it wants an inquiry into whether the government is forcing ranchers off their land.

Earlier, the sheriff’s office announced he community meeting”to discuss safety concerns and the disruptions caused by the behavior of those at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.”

“Sheriff (David) Ward invites community members to attend and will be addressing a wide range of community concerns and the steps being taken to ensure everyone’s safety,” the announcement said.

“Media can attend, but he is only taking questions from Harney County community members,” the agency added.

The sheriff’s office also announced late Tuesday it has set up an information line so that local citizens can call if they want to provide information or share safety concerns related to the situation occurring at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

This number is 541-573-3162. It will not be monitored 24 hours a day. Citizens and media are urged NOT to call the sheriff’s office dispatch line so that emergency services won’t be hindered.

Meanwhile, the Harney County School District announced Tuesday that schools, closed this week “to ensure staff and student safety,” will resume classes Monday. Officials said the sheriff’s office had requested use of the Lincoln District Office for “operational purposes” this week — and the Burns High School gym will open at 3 p.m. Friday for a basketball contest against Elgin.

“Go Hilanders!” the announcement concluded.

All reportedly was quiet as the fourth day of the occupation began. Group leader Ammon Bundy held another brief late-morning news conference to update reporters.

“We’re not about intimidation,” he said.

Bundy told reporters that ranchers, loggers and farmers should have control of federal lands. He is a son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a high-profile 2014 standoff with the government over grazing rights.

Ammon Bundy offered few specifics of the group’s plans. LaVoy Finicum, an Arizona rancher, said the group would examine land ownership transactions to begin to “unwind it.”

Finicum also said authorities hadn’t shut off power to the refuge’s headquarters as of Tuesday morning.

Environmentalists and others have said federal officials should run the land for the broadest benefits to business, recreation and the environment, The AP noted.

The anti-government protesters who took over the refuge buildings 30 miles south of Burns also made their case on Monday, while the sheriff had a simple message for the occupiers- go home.

Meanwhile The father and son ranchers in the middle of the dispute began their new prison terms, and their lawyer said they are seeking a pardon from President Obama.

Ammon Bundy also said the group now has a name: Citizens for Constitutional Freedom.

He said they want authorities to look into claims that local ranchers, including Dwight and Steven Hammond, have been intimidated by the federal government.

But at a brief Monday afternoon news conference, Harney County Sheriff David Ward reiterated his belief that the group that claims it wants to help local ranchers thrive really has a mission of overthrowing local and federal governments.

His message to Bundy and company: “It’s time for you to go home.”

Ward also said Dwight Hammond and his son, Steven Hammond, turned themselves in at 1:37 p.m. and were at a federal correctional facility in California. He provided no other details. A judge last fall re-sentenced the pair to finish a mandatory five-year federal minimum sentence for arson another judge had refused to impose. An appeals court later rejected claims it was an unconstitutional sentence.

Bundy — one of the sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a 2014 standoff with the government over grazing rights — told reporters earlier they have sent a “demand for redress” to local, state and federal officials. They want a response within five days. Bundy didn’t say what the group would do if they didn’t get a response.

Reporters have seen roughly 20 people at the remote facility, The Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, an attorney for the Hammonds, Kendra Matthews of Portland, said Monday they will seek clemency and a pardon from President Obama.

A judge said in October that their terms were too short and ordered them back to prison. Matthews reiterated that the Hammonds intend to surrender Monday to begin serving their terms.

Also, the White House said President Obama is aware of the Harney County situation and hopes it can be resolved peacefully.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said at a Monday briefing that the administration’s concern is for the safety of federal employees at the refuge but that none of them is in danger.

He said the FBI is monitoring the situation and offering support to local law enforcement.

Bundy said they had been asked by reporters what they should be called, “other than just citizens that care, and it’s time we make a stand to protect our human rights. We really didn’t know what to say.”

“Our purpose as we have shown is to restore and defend the Constitution that each person can be protected by it and that prosperity can continue,” Bundy said,

Bundy outlined the case of Dwight and Steve Hammond, who are returning to prison Monday on an arson conviction. He said their private water had been fenced off by federal agencies and pressured by the federal government to sell their land, rather than pass it on to their children and grandchildren.

As for the fires, Bundy said the pair had been prosecuted for actions ranchers have taken for over 100 years, and the Hammonds are not the only ones who have had their constitutional rights trampled upon.

Self-described “patriot American” Shawna Cox the read a “redress of grievances” notice of what the protesters want, as delivered earlier to local officials.

Two days after militia members from around the West occupied a federal wildlife refuge building in remote southeast Oregon, a growing police presence was evident Monday 60 miles away in Burns, as the FBI said they were leading efforts to find a “peaceful resolution” to the incident.

So was, as you’d expect, a growing media presence, with several TV-news satellite trucks joining the reporters on hand.

The FBI issued a brief statement late Sunday in which it confirmed it had taken the lead role in the matter and was working with others to try to resolve the takeover.

On Sunday, participants gave a limited media tour of the encampment and assured they are not damaging or vandalizing any equipment, as they settle in for what they claim could be a lengthy stay.

Three sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy led a small group away from Burns, after a peaceful protest and rally was held on Saturday in support of Dwight and Steve Hammond, the father and son ranchers reporting to federal prison Monday to serve the rest of their five-year sentence on federal arson convictions in 2001 and 2006 blazes.

The militia members headed 60 miles south, to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, where they quietly seized the unoccupied headquarters complex and quickly began telling reporters and others on social media to come join them in their effort to wrest the land and its resources back from the “tyranny” of federal overseers.

While stressing they don’t intend any violence, they also urged others joining them to come armed, further fueling the community tension and concern as militia members arrived in the weeks leading up to Saturday’s protest march and rally.

As a result, the Harney County School District has canceled classes for the week, citing security concerns, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management — the target of many militia members due to its role in Western ranching management — said its Burns regional office would be closed “until further notice.” Meanwhile, the FBI reportedly began booking rooms for agents at Burns motels.

In addition, the Oregon Department of Transportation said a “law enforcement operation” in the area meant they were not plowing snowdrifts on a 60-mile stretch of Oregon Highway 78, which they closed southeast of Burns. ODOT spokesman Tom Strandberg said the road reopened Monday.

Amid, or perhaps despite all that, the group’s leaders repeated Sunday to NewsChannel 21 during a brief tour of the area that they are prepared to be there for years, if necessary.

Leader Ammon Bundy and the others on scene said they are on hand to give the ranchers back their land from the federal government.

They were vague on just how many people are part of their group, but said they’d had more people come and join their cause in the day since the occupation began.

“I think they said it best back in World War II — I think there’s a gun behind every blade of grass,” said militia member Jason Patrick.

It appeared they were staffing the refuge’s fire lookout, likely as a watchtower for any trouble coming their way.

The occupiers also stressed that their seizure of the facility was not just about the Hammonds, who reportedly have already left for California to start their new prison terms, but about returning the land to the people.

Asked what actions they are willing to take to support that cause, they again stressed they were not there to cause trouble.

“I like to say that, let us be civil, and let us be as gentle as possible,” said Arizona militia member LaVoy Finicum, who said he lives near the Bundys and has stood with them before. “But we shall be as firm as necessary.”

“We want to leave this place the way we found it, (give it) back to the county and the state — but not to the feds,” Finicum added.

Harney County Sheriff David Ward issued a statement Sunday, saying they are working with other “organizations to make sure the citizens of Harney County are safe and this issue is resolved as quickly and peaceful as possible.”

Ward said they had no information to indicate “that any other areas in Harney County are in immediate danger,” but urged residents and others to “stay away from the refuge for their safety.”

“We also ask that if anyone sees any of these individuals in the area to please contact law enforcement and do not confront the individuals themselves,” the sheriff said, while he also cast doubt on the group’s public motives.

“These men came to Harney County claiming to be part of militia groups supporting local ranchers, when in reality these men had alternative motives to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States,” Ward said.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., weighed in as well, telling The Associated Press on Sunday that he understands why some may be frustrated by federal red tape and the poor rural economy, but shouldn’t be “misled by some outsiders who seem willing to take the law into their own hands.”

We’ll have updates through the week as developments warrant, on-air and online. In the meantime, do you feel the militia’s methods are an acceptable way to make their case? Vote in our current KTVZ.COM Poll, halfway down the right side of our home page.