Crime, Law & Justice

Media were allowed into the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge buildings Wednesday for the first time since the occupation ended last month.

The refuge, which was blanketed in snow during the 41-day occupation, shows signs of spring’s arrival: birds twitter and chirp and cattle graze in the distance. On the surface, life seems to be moving on. However, there are numerous costs in returning the refuge back to normal.

Organizers who opposed the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge raised more than $130,000 in support of nonprofit organizations and the Burns-Paiute Tribe.

When Oregon State Police stopped Robert “LaVoy” Finicum along a remote stretch of Highway 395, the militant was desperate to reach one man.

“I’m going over to meet with the sheriff in Grant County,” Finicum yelled to troopers during the Jan. 26 fatal traffic stop, moments before his death. “You can come along with us, and talk with us over there.”

Finicum had reason to try and reach Sheriff Glenn Palmer. Over his four terms in office, Palmer has been outspoken about what he sees as government overreach.

A new indictment unsealed Wednesday confirms the fears of members of the Burns Paiute Tribe that militants damaged an archaeological site during the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The new charge is against occupier Sean Anderson and another defendant whose name has been redacted, suggesting he or she may not be in law enforcement custody.

Investigators with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Harney and Malheur County district attorneys declared Tuesday the shots that killed militant LaVoy Finicum were justified and “necessary."

Investigators also said that, despite complaints from occupiers and their supporters that police shot more than 100 times into the truck carrying Finicum and other militants, only eight shots were fired – six from the Oregon State Police and two by members of the FBI hostage rescue team.

The sandhill cranes and the red-winged blackbirds are now landing in Harney County. The snow on the hay fields is melting. Bird calls fill the air near the still-closed headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The migratory birds may not sense any difference this spring as they flock to the lakes and wetlands, but for the 16 federal employees who work at the refuge, this season will be very different from years past.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to search for a man who reportedly jumped off the Yaquina Bay Bridge Monday morning. Two witnesses told Newport Police they saw the man on the east side, center span where he leaned over the bridge rail and then went over.

Workers with Eugene’s Parks department are erecting fences this week under the freeway bridges that reach across Washington Jefferson Park.

David Fry implored law enforcement to shout “hallelujah” as he turned himself in to FBI agents the morning of Feb. 11. Audio of the final moments before Fry went into FBI custody shows agents fulfilling his request, letting out what sound like relieved "hallelujahs".

Fry’s surrender effectively ended the 41-day armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon and weeks of uncertainty for the citizens of Harney County.

A federal judge in Portland denied bail for Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy at a hearing Tuesday.

Magistrate Judge Janice Stewart agreed with prosecutors that Bundy posed a flight risk, is a danger to the community, and should be held in jail while awaiting trial.

"I agree with the government, if he's released and goes back to his ranch that will be the last the court will see of him," Stewart said.

Salem-based attorney Noel Grefenson represented Bundy, and said he would appeal the judge's decision.

After 41 days, the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge concluded when the last four militants surrendered to the FBI. Reactions to the occupiers’ every move came in real time online as negotiations streamed live.

The attorneys for Ammon Bundy, could potentially be violating Oregon State Bar guidelines.

Vandals uprooted about 100 trees planted along Eugene’s Amazon Creek. The trees were planted last month in honor of The Martin Luther King Junior Day of Service.

Just four people remain at the occupied Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The group spoke with OPB by phone Thursday morning.

New information came out in federal court in Portland today about the militants arrested Tuesday night and charged with occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The Federal Government outlined its case today against the group led by Ammon Bundy.