Burns, Ore. – The FBI began to process the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as a crime scene Friday. Here’s the latest:
A team of FBI Special Agent Bomb Technicians, detectives with the Oregon State Police Arson/Explosives Unit, and bomb technicians from the Portland Police Bureau and Oregon Air National Guard conducted an initial sweep of the property. A full sweep is ongoing and will continue until the entire area is deemed safe for law enforcement to operate.
Currently, the FBI’s Evidence Response Teams (ERT) has entered areas of the refuge and has begun to document and collect evidence related to potential crimes committed during the occupation.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team has deployed to work on the refuge. These agents are specially-trained in cultural property investigations, and they will be responsible for working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Burns Paiute Tribe to identify and document damage to the tribe’s artifacts and sacred burial grounds.
All of this work will likely take a number of weeks to complete. As the FBI works through each of these investigative processes, we will consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as to how and when we will be able to return control of the refuge to that agency.
Harney County Joint Information Center Update:
The Harney County Joint Information Center (JIC) will continue to be staffed through Sunday, February 14, 2016. Further details will be forthcoming regarding contact information once the JIC ceases to operate.
The following information was released by the FBI on Thursday, Feb. 11,m 2016:
At approximately 9:40 am on Thursday, February 11, 2016, the FBI brought three of the remaining Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers into custody without incident. At approximately 11:00 am, agents brought the fourth into custody without incident.
* Sean Larry Anderson, age 47, of Riggins, Idaho
* Sandra Lynn Anderson, age 48, of Riggins, Idaho
* Jeff Wayne Banta, age 46, of Yerington, Nevada
* David Lee Fry, age 27, of Blanchester, Ohio
No one was injured, and no shots were fired. Thursday marks day 41 of the occupation of the refuge.
Agents arrested the remaining four occupiers as they walked out of the refuge to the FBI checkpoint. Those arrested will face arraignment before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Portland on Friday, February 12, 2016.
At times, there were dozens of highly armed militants occupying, visiting and supplying the refuge. On Wednesday, February 3, 2016, a federal grand jury indicted 16 people:
* Dylan Wade Anderson, age 34, of Provo, Utah
* Sandra Lynn Anderson, age 48, of Riggins, Idaho
* Sean Larry Anderson, age 47, of Riggins, Idaho
* Jeff Wayne Banta, age 46, of Yerington, Nevada
* Ammon Edward Bundy, age 40, of Emmett, Idaho
* Ryan C. Bundy, age 43, of Bunkerville, Nevada
* Brian Cavalier, age 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada
* Shawna Cox, age 59, Kanab, Utah
* Duane Leo Ehmer, age 45, of Irrigon, Oregon
* David Lee Fry, age 27, of Blanchester, Ohio
* Kenneth Medenbach, age 62, of Crescent, Oregon
* Joseph Donald O’Shaughnessy, age 45, of Cottonwood, Arizona
* Jason S. Patrick, age 43, of Bonaire, Georgia
* Ryan Waylen Payne, age 32, of Anaconda, Montana
* Jon Eric Ritzheimer, age 32, Peoria, Arizona
* Peter Santilli, age 50, of Cincinnati, Ohio
Each subject faces one federal felony count of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 372.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“The occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge has been a long and traumatic episode for the citizens of Harney County and the members of the Burns Paiute tribe. It is a time for healing, reconciliation amongst neighbors and friends, and allowing for life to get back to normal. I want to thank our neighbors in eastern Oregon for their patience, resolve, and their kind and welcoming spirit to the many members of federal, county, state, local, and tribal law enforcement who have worked tirelessly to bring this illegal occupation to a conclusion. The fine work of so many dedicated public servants in a difficult endeavor cannot be understated. I am very proud of them all,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney, District of Oregon.
“Much work is left to assess the crime scene and damage to the refuge and tribal artifacts. We are committed to seeing the job done and to pursue justice for the crimes committed during the illegal occupation.”
