Leader of Oregon occupation Ammon Bundy, at least 8 others arrested

BY KATU.COM STAFF TUESDAY, JANUARY 26TH 2016


Ammon Bundy, one of the sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, speaks during an interview at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, near Burns, Ore. Law enforcement had yet to take any action Tuesday against a group numbering close to two dozen, led by Bundy and his brother, who are upset over federal land policy. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

HARNEY COUNTY, Ore. — KATU News has learned the leader of the armed occupation at Malheur Wildlife Refuge - Ammon Bundy - has been arrested, along with at least eight other individuals Tuesday evening.

Officials said it all began with a traffic stop while Bundy and some of his followers were en route to a community meeting in John Day, about 70 miles away.

Shots were fired after FBI agents, Oregon State troopers and other law enforcement agencies made the stop. CNN reports its unclear who fired first.

Details of the arrest remain unknown, but charges are pending related to the group's 25-day takeover of the wildlife refuge.
Bundy and about three dozen of other individuals occupied the wildlife refuge earlier this month after two local ranchers were sent to prison for setting fires on federal land.




KATU News spoke with Harney County Judge Steven Grasty last weekend, who expressed his worry regarding the situation.

"Somebody will do something stupid," Grasty said. "If it goes south, it'll go south because Mr. Bundy or his friends started something."

Around the same time, Bundy told KATU his group had no intention of using their weapons, "but we have them, and we're willing to stand with them in our own defense as we exercise our rights, and as we restore our rights back to our brothers and sisters."

Gov. Kate Brown had repeatedly asked for assistance from federal authorities regarding the occupation.

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