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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMedia and Las Vegas Sheriff Deputies Break Silence over Bundy Ranch and the Mooch Militia standoff
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At least some of the militia members who pointed weapons at police officers during the confrontation may have wanted a violent outcome and tried to incite one.
In exclusive interviews with the 8 News NOW I-Team, officers who were on the scene shared their thoughts and fears, and they say it is not over.
"These guys with rifles, keep them calm," was Clark County Assistant Sheriff Joe Lombardo's request to one of Bundy's sons the day of the confrontation.
Lombardo's top priority was to prevent a spark that might set off a bloody firefight.
"There was a possibility of somebody just having an accidental discharge causing a blood bath, because the individuals that were showing up, the militia quote unquote, were armed to the teeth," Lombardo said.
On one side, armed federal rangers and agents, on the other, a huge crowd of angry militia members and in the middle, 30 Metro officers, exposed and vulnerable, aware that if the shooting began, some of them would die.
"You are standing there going, 'I just hope it doesn't hurt when it comes. That it's quick,' and it was real for us. It was real," Sgt. Tom Jenkins said.
" You thought you might die?) Yeah." Sgt. Jenkins said.
(snip)
"Mr. Bundy, in my personal opinion, incited the crowd," Lombardo said.
(snip)
(snip)
Edit: (Part 1 of the story)
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)who pointed weapons at officers.
hollowdweller
(4,229 posts)Far as the Branch Davidians a lot of the argument was that Koresh was in town a lot why didn't they just apprehend him then rather than staging a raid and firefight.
I'm betting they have the goods both testimony and picture wise on who was drawing down on the officers. I heard a quote in an article recently where one person said "I have a clear shot at 4 of them" A lot of those guys were proud to actually have pictures of themselves taken aiming at federal, state, and county employees. That is not the same as walking down a street with an assault rifle.
Figuring as some of the militia guys get bored and leave they are going to be taken in by law enforcement on obstruction of justice and fireams charges. They may even wait till they are home and going about their business.
The moment that they can get Bundy without a serious fight, they will, and he's may be tried under some of terrorisim laws.
Probably they have one or more people on the inside right now.
However since so many Nevada wingnut politicians came out in support of the crazies the feds are going to leave them around, causing trouble so they voters will remember that come election time.
frylock
(34,825 posts)and that your scenario will likely play out. it may be a couple of months, but once the temps start hitting close to 110, these morons will lose interest, head home, and will receive a home call from law enforcement.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)dressing up as militia and joining the gang.
Probably wouldn't be very hard to infiltrate.
calimary
(81,558 posts)Or - excuse me - Xe-types. They changed their name so everybody will think those nasty Blackwater types aren't around anymore, OR up to something. And that would be WRONG-WRONG-WRONG.
Remember: A name change doesn't stop them. It only stops YOU. That's what it's designed to do.
brush
(53,960 posts)in an attempt to disassociate the company from it's notorious history. It's now Academi with a new logo and all.
calimary
(81,558 posts)This would be, according to his definition, a "Clirty." Which is - a cleaned-up dirty.
Mr.Bill
(24,346 posts)took down the KKK after the civil rights workers were murdered in the 60s. And back then the KKK in southern towns was likely to count law enforcement and elected officials, even judges among their membership. These militia clowns should be easy to nail compared to them
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)...time they see a rock
warrior1
(12,325 posts)I would say cut the power and water to this place as well as all road that lead to bundy ranch
hollowdweller
(4,229 posts)Not the grazing land which they already own, but the actual property that the family owns before it all winds down.
The forfeiture procedure often used on drug cases means the gov't can confiscate property that was material to commission of a crime. Not sure but I think that housing a militia that was used to threaten law enforcment officers probably qualfies.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)I dont know details of forfeiture law, but it seems to have a pretty broad interpretation by the courts. If nothing else, the BLM may place a lien on the property to settle the court judgement against Bundy.
951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)[IMG][/IMG]
Other photo of checkpoint for locals
ProfessorGAC
(65,325 posts)Not too, i think. Would take about 6 seconds to have them on the ground crying for mommy.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)They planned to use women as human shields if gunfight broke out.
dickthegrouch
(3,185 posts)That these yahoos are so keen to burn someone to death, incite riots, murder law enforcement officers in the commission of the duties, but want humane executions for themselves (if they ever get the death penalty conferred).
After they tone it down, we can tone it down. GIVE UP THE F'ING GUNS.
Maraya1969
(22,509 posts)GusBob
(7,286 posts)Time, patience and intelligence are on the Feds side. These numb nuts ain't the sharpest tacks in the box and will certainly build their own gallows. Driving your own vehicle to the rodeo would be your first mistake. The hardest part for the agents who have infiltrated these traitors is to act stupider then them
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)SCVDem
(5,103 posts)One low pass strafing run and these Assholes would shit themselves.
WHO says the government can't use overwhelming force?
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)It'll get these morans to expose themselves.
My hope is for them to wave in the FOX "News" van.
We scgov
(3 posts)imagine the outrage if a group of heavily armed men of color confronted a sheriff anywhere in the US
alp227
(32,070 posts)These fuckwits just get OFF on the deaths or suffering of people of color under the color of law, y'know because they're worthless inner city THUGS using "police brutality" and "race card" as an excuse. But apparently if you're white and standing up for American Values(TM) it's OK to threaten cops with weapons.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)calimary
(81,558 posts)EXCELLENT!!! Just Absolute Torch N Twang EXCELLENT!!!
Let's let them wear THAT around for awhile! Sounds like they're more than living up to the other label that they've earned: DOMESTIC TERRORISTS. And that one, too, should be hung around their necks as the millstone it is and should be.
Needs repeating - a LOT! More like RELENTLESSLY!!! Til it sticks.
And this is a wealthy moocher-rancher. Why is anyone offering him more free stuff? Free stuff. I thought his type didn't like or approve of such things.
951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)[img][/img]
Federal officials are exploring their legal options, and Metro Police confirm that an investigation is ongoing. What has not been made public is just how close things came to an all-out gun battle. Some of those who were on the front lines spoke exclusively to the I-Team's George Knapp.
When the Bureau of Land Management mobilized to go after Bundy's cattle two years ago, they did so under an administrative order. This time, it was considered a criminal matter, and the I-Team has learned that order went all the way to the White House for approval.
When it became apparent that things were not going well in Bunkerville and hundreds of armed Bundy supporters were on the scene, Metro found itself right in the middle, a very dangerous place to be.
"We didn't show any fear that day, but I can tell you, we all thought in the back of our minds, we all thought it was going to be our last day on earth, if it went bad," said Sgt. Tom Jenkins of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
He is more familiar with the craziness of the Las Vegas Strip, which is where he and his squad usually work to keep the peace. But when things began to turn ugly in Bunkerville earlier this month, two squads of patrol officers, along with a SWAT unit, were dispatched to the scene.
"We were told, we're going to go down there and we're going to get between the BLM and the protesters. We were going, okay, we've been there before, but as we were driving up, it was like a movie set. It didn't look real; people in the back of pickup trucks with rifles and shotguns," Jenkins said. "It was hard to grasp that at the beginning."
(snip)
"I don't know his name. He was wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. I'll never forget that," he said.
(snip)
But the police were to learn, some in the crowd did want to go in that direction. Even Lombardo was on the receiving end.
(snip)
I highly recommend going to that article and watching the news story. News 8 did an incredible job covering this.
Edit: If you're a fan of the TV show COPS you'll remember Officer Jenkins taking down a drunk racist many years ago on the show.
calimary
(81,558 posts)such a horrible position? He's a peace officer! He's the guy who probably would be pulling somebody over on the Las Vegas Strip for driving drunk. He and his fellows shouldn't have to face shit (and shitters) like this! SHEESH! They don't pay guys like him enough!!!!
weissmam
(905 posts)FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)What happened to the 2nd amendment? Does it only apply to him?
Aldo Leopold
(685 posts)underpants
(182,978 posts)Including during his (disastrous) "press conference" after the audio was made public.
onecaliberal
(32,953 posts)Who were pointing weapons at police? Can you imagine if those armed terrorists were not white?
Initech
(100,121 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)Operates with impunity, terrorizing the locals.
Some visible gesture of control is needed. Not necessarily violent, but some inkling of consequences.
Aldo Leopold
(685 posts)This Bundy jackass has quite the ego, demanding the sheriff tell his men to deliver their guns to him.
Babel_17
(5,400 posts)This situation is symptomatic of the lives led by those who, by custom, are empowered to live outside of the normal rules of accountability.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,062 posts)Just because some are veterans of Army or Marines does not mean they are trained for crowd scenes or complex evolving situations where laws and US rights apply. It also does not mean that their old training is up to date or fresh enough to be effective.
The Mooch militia "units" are not trained together as a cohesive force and may kill as many of their own as any others. Of course then the Right Wing media would spin those deaths as government heavy-handedness and not as the militia incompetence that it would be.
The militia are not trained just because most of them are good at shooting at targets on ranges.
The militia are not trained. Period. They are a force to be reckoned with but that makes them even more dangerous since they could go off half-cocked (yes, that is the technical phrase) with disastrous results.
StarryNite
(9,464 posts)I hope I'm wrong, I hope arrests are made and those proven guilty will be punished. But wackos seem to get away with things. Colorado Ctiy, AZ comes to mind. Even though Warren Jeffs was arrested, they still haven't gotten a handle on that polygamist community after how many years?
Crunchy Frog
(26,698 posts)Things will get vastly worse if this isn't taken care of in a timely fashion.