Woodburn man headed to refuge threatens to kill officers

A Woodburn man who said he was headed to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and wanted to help kill federal agents threatened to kill police officers, resisted arrest and kicked a patrol car’s door after his arrest Monday on drunk driving charges, officials said.

According to the Harney County District Attorney’s Office, sheriff’s deputies got a report around 11:45 a.m. of a man at the Hines Market who’d made comments he wanted to join the militia occupying the refuge and help with killing federal agents.

Deputies and Oregon State Police contacted Joseph Stetson, 54, who appeared to be armed with a handgun, though deputies said it turned out to be a pellet gun in a belt holster.

They said Stetson told troopers he was intending on being the personal guard for the Bundys, leaders of the occupation. Officers said they determined Stetson was impaired and he was arrested on DUII-alcohol.

“During the arrest, he repeatedly made death threats towards the officers and resisted arrest prior to being placed into a patrol vehicle,” the news release stated. “After being placed in the patrol vehicle, Stetson kicked the vehicle door, damaging it.”

Stetson was lodged at the Harney County Jail on charges of DUII and resisting arrest.

The DA’s office authorized the release of a body camera video provided by OSP, which can be found (warning: graphic language) at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyAVjIndWOE

Back in 2009, Stetson got into a standoff with deputies near Portland. The Oregonian reported at the time that he destroyed a mobile home during a rampage.