At long last, one of the Bundy militia has been arrested for taking a federal vehicle and moseying down to the local Safeway in Burns to get some supplies.
John Sepulvado tweeted it just awhile ago:
.@OPBnews has confirmed the first arrests of #bundymilitia have been made at the Safeway in Burns 1/3 pic.twitter.com/bdo341Wgdl
— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 15, 2016
first arrest made of #bundymilitia - two fed vehicles from compound were driven to Safeway. vehicles now impounded pic.twitter.com/RM94eKj2Uh
— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 15, 2016
Also this:
BREAKING: OSP arrests Crescent resident Kenneth Medenbach, 62, on charges in theft of two govt. vehicles from Malheur refuge. Details coming
— KTVZ NewsChannel 21 (@KTVZ) January 15, 2016
State police, not the FBI were the ones who arrested him.
In an article for OPB, Sepulvado and Amanda Peacher tried to get an answer to the strategic decision not to arrest the occupiers.
However, federal sources familiar with the occupation, investigation and legal case did speak to OPB on the condition of anonymity.
Those sources tell OPB there is still hope among law enforcement leadership the occupation will end without violence. That’s why law enforcement doesn’t patrol the area, block travel to the refuge or take other actions that could lead to a confrontation.
There’s also a legal concern that a shootout, or raid, could make it harder to get jury convictions and prosecute material supporters.
For now, it seems as though the FBI is taking a chance: If the militants can’t get the standoff they want, they’ll get sick of standing around.
In the same article, law enforcement sources expressed a desire for reporters to leave the area and stop giving the militia members any attention. I understand the sentiment, but that's going to be a heavy lift, given that these people are occupying publicly-owned lands illegally.
So if it's going to be one arrest at a time, then that's what it will be. Sieges do work, but they take time.
Here's a memo to the Bundy boys: Next time you want supplies, try loading up the horses and leave the taxpayer-owned vehicles alone.
