FBI statement on Oregon standoff

[Qutzupalotl]

(no link; received by email from FlashAlert.net)

STATEMENT BY GREG BRETZING, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, FBI PORTLAND, 1/27/2016

News Release from FBI - Oregon
Posted on FlashAlert: January 27th, 2016 11:03 AM
Good morning. My name is Greg Bretzing, and I am the Special Agent in Charge for the FBI in Oregon.

For the past month, the FBI -- along with our partners at the Harney County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police and the many other federal and local agencies -- have had a very deliberate and measured response. We worked diligently to bring the situation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to a peaceful end. Some of those actions were seen, some unseen. But, because this is an on-going investigation with some armed individuals illegally remaining in the refuge, we cannot get into details as to every action tried or taken.

I will say that the armed occupiers were given ample opportunities to leave peacefully. They were given the opportunity to negotiate. As outsiders to Oregon, they were given the opportunity to return to their homes and have their grievances heard through legal and appropriate means. They chose, instead, to threaten the very America they profess to love with violence, intimidation and criminal acts.

Yesterday, the FBI and our partners took the necessary actions to start bringing this situation to an end. We worked to ensure that we could do so in the safest way possible -- removing the threat of danger from innocent citizens. We continue to work to empty the refuge of the armed occupiers in the safest way possible.

Eight people were arrested, and one man died yesterday as we attempted to take him into custody. Because there is an on-going investigation by the Deschutes County Major Crimes Team on behalf of OSP related to this piece of the investigation, I will not be able to comment on the specifics.

I would, however, ask for your patience as the shooting investigation works its way through that outside process. At the appropriate time, the Medical Examiner's office will release the decedent's identity, and OSP will address the details of the event.

Let me be clear: It is fully and unequivocally the behavior and the choices made by the armed occupiers that have led us to where we are today. And, as the FBI and our partners have demonstrated, actions are not without consequences.
Containment road blocks are now in place around the Refuge. The disruption that the good people of Harney County have had to endure over the last few months will continue -- for now.

If the people at the refuge want to leave, they can do so through the checkpoints where they will be identified. If they have questions or concerns, they can call the negotiators at the number that has been provided to them.

As I conclude I want to share my promise to the people who live and work here -- who are raising their families here - that we will continue to look for safe, peaceful and productive ways to end this armed occupation. We recognize that the sooner we do that, the sooner the citizens of Harney County can start healing this community they cherish so much.

Thank you.

[Electric Monk]

1. k&r, nt

[longship]

2. Good! R&K nt

[malaise]

3. A thoroughly professional operation

Congrats all

[Fairgo]

4. I proudly stand with the federal government

and the rule of law.

[Megahurtz]

5. Yes

however there are a few remaining whackos at the Wildlife Refuge that apparently want to die, they even said so. I'll be so glad when this is all over.

[passiveporcupine]

11. The last I read,, Bundy's wife is still there

But I know a car full of women left, so maybe that isn't correct any longer.

I hope it's only men left, because I fear now that they are going to start doing damage to the refuge in their attempts to secure themselves, and in their anger over recent events.

I don't think Finicum is going to be the only one to die before this is over. Sadly. I really did not want to see it end this way.

The problem is these guys still think that if they hang in long enough, their demands will be met. They are totally delusional in that regard. I don't know how they can possibly even think that, except that people like Representative Walden spur them on by agreeing that land management is wrong and needs to be changed.

Walden should be kicked out of office.

[leftieNanner]

13. I would love to boot Walden

I'm in Ashland, Oregon and he is the representative for all of eastern Oregon and a our tiny progressive corner. He's horrible, but the rest of his district is very Republican and very conservative. We haven't been able to find a decent Democratic challenger. His job is safe - for now. He's most worried about getting primaried - getting "Cantored".

I'm still waiting for old man Bundy to pay for his crimes in Nevada. The fact that he got away with what he did a few years ago gave these current idiots the idea that they could take over the refuge now.

Nevertheless, I hope the FBI is able to end this without any more shots being fired.

[blackspade]

6. White privilege continues to be displayed

[navarth]

8. definitely

got such a long way to go...

[Angry Dragon]

10. YES

[Gregorian]

19. We'll arrest you once you go home. What the hell?

Hippies, blacks, poor, pot smokers, would all be in a hospital at best.

With a little luck, we may be wiping this conservative crap out of our country. Go Bernie!

[progressoid]

7. Sorry, but why the fuck were "armed occupiers" given the opportunity to leave peacefully?

Seriously, WTF?

[iandhr]

9. Given events like Waco that were PR disasters for the FBI...

... it is advantageous to say "we gave them an opportunity to surrender peacefully but they refuse giving us no other option but to use force"



That is my educated guess as to why.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. There were women and children at the refuge.

and the Feds were correctly anxious about THIS possibility:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027565922
"To show how ruthless FBI is, I would put my own wife, daughter out on the front lines to be shot"

[me b zola]

16. It is my understanding that those children were not there at the initial "occupation"

Allowing children to come into the situation is what made it so difficult to deal with.

[Chakab]

17. These guys were treated with kid gloves even when there weren't children present.

Here's one of them who was arrested for DUI:

This guy is drunk, belligerent, armed and he threatened to kill the officers multiple times, yet they took no aggressive action towards him.

Don't get me wrong. I think that this is a proper example of professional police work. I'd just like to see everybody get the same treatment from law enforcement that these right wing lunatics got.

If they had arrested these guys after the nonsense at the Bundy ranch died down, they never would have felt emboldened to occupy a government building.

[Nye Bevan]

20. Isn't a peaceful ending always better than a bloody battle?

I think this has been handled masterfully so far, and I for one am happy that another Waco seems to have been avoided.

[Helen Borg]

14. Long overdue.

[hopemountain]

15. as an oregonian

it is a beginning to relief and resolution to a terrible, terrible situation for all communities in rural oregon. 70% of oregon is federal land. this federal land and the resources belonging to ALL americans are under vicious manipulations and attacks for privatization of public lands and for control and ruthless exploitation by corporations. these private interests are openly manipulating the farmers and ranchers, law enforcement, and many legislators around the country to do their bidding by promising a piece of the pie for all. yeah, sure.

[WheelWalker]

18. Now for the Great Harney County Roundup of 2016

as authorities clear the corral and prepare for local and national sympathizers coming in from the range. I expect a plethora of wiretap warrants have issued as the stray doggies have outed themselves over the past month.