Situation Report (SITREP) – 0400L 28 JAN 16
It’s been a very long 36 hours since yesterday’s events began unfolding. Avoidable tragedy struck Tuesday afternoon when LaVoy Finicum was shot and killed. Since then, there have been at least four different accounts of what happened. We’ve seen wild and inaccurate speculation about what’s going on at the Refuge, which has been contradictory to on the ground reporting.
In these times, we need to focus on discerning facts from opinions, and separate what’s more likely to be true from what’s less likely to be true through a structured process. What follows is my personal account of following the situation, including talks with sources on the ground and on conference calls with Sergeant Major Joseph Santoro (U.S.A., Ret.), Stewart Rhodes, State Representative Matthew Shea (R-WA), Jason Van Tatenhove, and others.
Here’s what we know.
– Just before 5:00 pm local on Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Oregon State Police (OSP) made a felony stop on two vehicles carrying Ammon Bundy and six other individuals headed to a community meeting in John Day, Oregon, in neighboring Grant County. During the stop, which occurred on land that the federal government controls just inside the Malheur National Forest, law enforcement personnel fired shots, wounding Ryan Bundy and killing LaVoy Finicum. Here’s a breakdown of the four known accounts.
- Ammon Bundy allegedly called his wife to tell her that LaVoy Finicum was unarmed and had his hands up when shot and killed. Ammon received this account second-hand and was passing on what he was told. We know that the altercation with LaVoy occurred outside the line of sight of Ammon Bundy.
- Victoria Sharpe was allegedly in LaVoy’s vehicle during the shooting, and she claims that around 120 rounds were fired during the altercation, and that LaVoy had his hands up while walking towards FBI and OSP officers. FBI and OSP officers, according to Victoria Sharpe’s account, shot Lavoy and continued to shoot him after he fell down.
- Mark McConnell’s account draws heavily on the alleged first-hand accounts of Shawna Cox and Ryan Payne. Mark’s statement claims that LaVoy drove through the felony stop further north up the road. According to Mark, Shawna Cox continues the story she related to him, saying that they drove towards the FBI-OSP road block, where LaVoy then attempted to drive around the road block. After the truck got stuck, LaVoy exited the vehicle and charged law enforcement personnel. Mark cites the stories of Shawna Cox and Ryan Payne that LaVoy was not on his knees and was not cooperative when he was killed.
- Finally, according to a joint FBI-OSP statement published Wednesday morning, three shots were fired during the stop. It provides no additional information about the altercation.
- (Analyst Comment: Each of the three eye witness accounts agree that LaVoy drove his truck past the felony stop, towards the road block. Each of the three eye witness accounts agree that LaVoy had his hands up in the air, and two claim that he was walking towards FBI and OSP personnel when shot and killed. From there, the eye witness accounts get very contradictory. The accounts of Shawna Cox and Ryan Payne, according to Mark McConnell, support the limited information provided by the FBI-OSP statement. The account of Victoria Sharpe is the outlier. Two things are sure for me: there was no “shoot out” as the media has reported. According to each of the eye witness statements above, no possibility exists that LaVoy Finicum fired at police. After surveying three weeks of his video statements about the potential for his death, and speaking with him in person a little over a week ago, I’m more inclined to believe that LaVoy was shot on his feet than on his knees. “I’m not going to end up in prison. I would rather die than be caged. And I’ve lived a good life,” he told reporters during the first week of the occupation. He went on record numerous times later saying, effectively, that he was going to walk away after the mission was accomplished or that he was going to die trying. If we’re to believe LaVoy’s conviction that he would have rather died than go to prison, then in the face of overwhelming odds that he would be arrested, we must accept the possibility that he died for the cause. If Shawna and Ryan’s accounts, as told by Mark McConnell are accurate, then he was walking towards police when he was shot. That increases the likelihood of a wrongful death scenario, and gives no credence to the claim that he was executed while on his knees. Additionally, we need to ask why non-lethal/less-lethal means weren’t used in order to subdue LaVoy, especially if his hands remained up.)
– After the felony stop, Sergeant Major Joseph Santoro (U.S.A., Ret.) began communicating with FBI contacts. A top priority for SGM Santoro, acting in coordination with Pacific Patriots Network, Oath Keepers National, Stewart Rhodes, State Representative Matthew Shea (R-WA) from the Coalition of Western States (C.O.W.S.) and a Coalition representative at the Refuge, was to work with the FBI in order to give enough time for women and children at the Refuge to leave. He repeatedly expressed his concern that an FBI action on the compound would result in further loss of life, including the potential for harm to women and children. SGM Santoro convinced his FBI contacts to delay any action on the Refuge, while a C.O.W.S. representative at the Refuge worked to get the women and children packed up to leave. Through numerous phone calls and face to face coaxing, a majority of the occupiers agreed to leave. Additionally, a YouTube video posted by David Fry early Thursday morning confirms that conditions at the Refuge were ‘chaotic’ as occupiers packed up to leave as quickly as possible.
– The mission of the Pacific Patriots Network has been to prevent another Waco, where federal agents mass murder American citizens during an assault on a compound. That mission has so far been accomplished.
– According to sources at the Refuge, there weren’t enough vehicles to transport everyone who wanted to leave the Refuge. SGM Santoro relayed that to the FBI, and the FBI contacts instructed those without a vehicle to drive a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) vehicle parked at the Refuge into Burns and park it at a location where it would later be picked up by BLM officials.
– According to sources at the Refuge, Jason Patrick, who decided to stay, became angry that most occupiers were leaving, and refused to move a vehicle so that they could leave the Refuge Headquarters. Those leaving were forced to drive through private property in order get back to a highway, where they began their trip back into Burns, and then home.
– At approximately 0200L on the morning of 27 January, sources in contact with the FBI claimed that the remaining occupiers were given until 0400L to vacate, implying that action might be taken to remove them if they stayed past the deadline. At 0400L, no action was taken, and as of 0100L on Thursday, 28 January, no direct action has been taken at the Refuge.
– On Wednesday afternoon, Duane Ehmer, the cowboy who infamously rode his horse while hoisting an American flag, was arrested by the FBI.
– On Wednesday evening, negotiations with Jason Patrick were finally successful and he agreed to leave the refuge. According to sources familiar with the story, the FBI told Jason Patrick that he was free to leave, however, he would be arrested if he had an outstanding warrant. After walking seven miles out of the Refuge to the FBI checkpoint to be picked up, he was arrested by law enforcement at 1910L due to an outstanding warrant. (Analyst Comment: Jason Patrick was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. Being one of the more ardent protesters at the Refuge, the FBI likely considered him to be one of the top instigators, especially after he decided to stay as most others left.)
– A video posted to YouTube early Thursday morning indicates that five occupiers remain at the Refuge. In the video, David Fry says they’re refusing to leave because one individual has an outstanding warrant and will be arrested. They told their FBI negotiator that they would all leave if his warrant is revoked. No further information is available.
– There are efforts underway to organize large gatherings in Salem, Oregon to protest the killing of LaVoy Finicum in front of the governor’s office and another building. There’s also a protest being scheduled in Eugene. Follow the Pacific Patriots Network for additional and up to date information.
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Photo via Harney County Mall Cops
Thank you for your reports!
Protest, protest, protest! What good is that doing?
David Fry of Cincinnati, 27 yrs old going on 12, the new voice of the Welfare Cowboys. Gotta love it!
This was poorly planned. Unbelievable! A couple men had warrants and still took part of this militia? Not knowing the outcome of the situation? The guys who are still at the refuge demand that one of their buddy’s warrant is to be revoked for them to leave? Now the issue is no longer about the Hammonds, but of themselves. Just Wow.
These aren’t previous warrants. Some of these people had warrants put on them just for being there. The result of our current administration, you can be a law abiding citizen one day, and a wanted outlaw the next.
Why don’t the feds wear body cams? Oh yeah, they may actually record what happened.
Forgot to mention that the whole thing was a setup to get these guys out and arrest. The town meeting was a farce set up by fbi or ? There are other means to stop an unarmed man other than murdering them and who’s going to prison for that murder? Why were the fbi not forceful in Missouri where there was people with violence? As an average American and talking with other people we are very upset with this government
Why weren’t the chimps in Missouri treated this way? …because the empire and their stormtroopers rightly feared meaningful reprisals.
It’s clear that the stormtroopers view the patriot movement as a paper tiger, and acted against these protesters accordingly.
Shall we prove them right, or shall we prove them wrong?
Julia if you watched frys last you tube post 4 of the 5 would be able to walk out with no charges 1 would have have charges when he left…and that guy has only been there a few days.
But the “government condones this??? http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/18/black-lives-matter-protesters-block-sf-bay-bridge/78984818/
I don’t know this Mark person but according to his own story, he wasn’t there when LaVoy was murdered. Victoria was. It’s heartbreaking to know that an 18 year old had to sit in fear of her and their lives while they shot Mr. Finicum in the face. She also stated that his hands remained above his head after his death. If you want the video proof, lean on the ABC Reporter for it!
This comment may never be read??? However it seems to me that a quick inspection of the vehicle LaVoy was in should pretty much prove who is lying, the FBI or the protesters.
I am very disappointed in the way this has all turned out. I feel that if the 3percenters and the Oath Keepers along with other militias in the area had thrown in with the Bundy protesters and had called in additional members in a much larger number that the Hammonds might very well be out of jail and back home where they belong and want to be. And above all else, no one would be dead.
Is America lost? Sure feels that way. I know. i’m sitting here at my desk behind a computer screen and mostly just venting my frustration. But my comments are sincere and I do feel more could have been done to support Ammon Bundy and his patriots. GB
All you need to do is watch the online live video feeds at https://www.youtube.com/user/DefendYourBase, and it will become very clear these people are idiots, with low IQ, and criminals at best. Attention seekers. We have the same mentality in WNC, where they seek online attention, all bark, no bite with the Gov. If you call them out, they will sue you. This morning though they are all disgraced and ignoring the true facts of the incident they once supported. The FBI takedown was textbook. Great job! And for all you doubting trolls, the FBI has video of the takedown. I suspect this was nothing more than a suicide by cop incident. All reports of shootouts and hands-up surrender turned out to be false, but what would you expect from ignorant hateful people, nothing less. If you truly are a Constitutionalist, then you must then respect the rule of law, period!!
The Constitution was written to give citizens the right to defend themselves against this kind of bullying.
They did it completely wrong. Dont get me wrong i dont agree with the armed occupation of the refuge, but was lethal force needed? No it wasnt, 3 percenters and oathkeepers are not hateful ignorant people. All accounts of lavoys hands in the air when he was shot are false? Really, every video posted his hands are up when he was shot. So can you tell me why Ferguson and baltimore had full fledged riots and they had no loss of life by police, but yet a peaceful protest although armed they were not violent 2 men get shot and one dies. They could have used bean bag rounds and tasers
How can you say that the FBI takedown was textbook? Do you not have eyes or a brain? Or are you just lying. His hands were up exactly as the witnesses have said. It appears he reached down briefly, but quickly returned his hands upward. The only inaccurate part of the witness was that he was on his knees. However to a 18 yr hiding in a truck getting riddled with bullets, it could easily appear that Lavoy was on his knees as he was buried well over his knees with over two feet of snow. Pull your head out and stop being a sheep. You don’t find it suspicious that during the time when the 18 yr old girl claimed the shooting started, the FBI conveniently goes black and says nothing happens for 3:47. While at the same time the FBI Head from Portland claims that Ryan surrenders himself before the truck speeds away. Clearly Ryan did exit the vehicle while it was stopped and when supposedly the first shot were fired by law enforcement. This is where we should be asking questions. Show us the truck that according to the FBI was never fired upon but according to the witness is filled with hundreds of bullets. Don’t be a dult and seek truth.
Is Glenn Palmer, Sheriff for Grant County a good constitutional sheriff? I have been seeing some postings trying to condemn him for setting up the arrest/ambush. If he is a good guy the patriot community needs to get in front of this and protect one of their own.
Constitutional my ass, he set them up.
I WANT TO SEE THE CAR ! ! !
I think you did a great job on this news feed. The sad thing is we will never know the truth. As Americans We all need to come together as one and fix this country
Photographs at the scene of the shooting appear to show sheriff Palmer with a shotgun. Good guy? I’m withholding judgement.
Hard lessons to learn from this. Militias stay on the defensive and stay within the law. The original objective was not accomplished. The whole incident has overshadowed The Hammonds and has not won the support of the public in general. It just got one man killed and others thrown in jail. More could have been accomplished with peaceful protests and being creative at shining some light on the situation. This is a public opinion battle as much as anything. People don’t care because they don’t know. The government and corporations have been very adept at keeping a large public outcry at bay and keeping the truth out of the news. Bundy made the news but it wasn’t productive publicity. In short, think strategically and use your head.
The real winners were the business owners in Burns and the local law enforcement that got paid overtime.
How could Payne be an “eyewitness” when he was out of the vehicle, wounded, and in custody back at the first stop point back where McConnell was? The only ones in the vehicle at the snowbank were Finicum, Ryan Bundy, Sharpe and Cox. I see no discrepancies between Cox’s and Sharpe’s story except the speed at which Mr. Finicum was moving toward the government agents. That being said, none of this needed to happen, but it is what the PTB want.
Lets just wait for the FBI cam video and then all conspiracies can be put to rest.
Greywolf- Granted, but we need to heed and await all the facts before passing judgement.
these guys were fighting for our constitutional rights and freedoms…you don`t understand that,..live in a hitler world dummy…
When dealing with the law and the FBI, you have no rights. You live in their world and they ain’t too happy about it.