The law enforcement partners involved in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will hold a press conference at 10:30 am on Wednesday, January 27th. Media may start setting up at 9:30 am.
Location:
Harney County Chamber of Commerce
484 N. Broadway Avenue
Burns, OR 97720
Expected Participants:
FBI, Special Agent in Charge Greg Bretzing
United States Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney Bill Williams
Harney County, Sheriff Dave Ward
There are currently no plans by any agencies to do interviews outside of the press conference.
At 8:30 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Phoenix Division made a probable cause arrest of Jon Eric Ritzheimer, age 32, on a federal charge related to the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon. Ritzheimer turned himself into the Peoria, Arizona, police department. The arrest was without incident.
Ritzheimer faces one federal felony charge of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 372.
The FBI made the Arizona arrest in conjunction with a series of other arrests made by FBI and Oregon State Police in Harney County, Oregon, earlier in the evening. The following individuals also face the same charge:
* Ammon Edward Bundy, age 40, of Emmett, Idaho
* Ryan C. Bundy, age 43, of Bunkerville, Nevada
* Brian Cavalier, age 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada
* Shawna Cox, age 59, Kanab, Utah
* Ryan Waylen Payne, age 32, of Anaconda, Montana
* Joseph Donald O'Shaughnessy, age 45, of Cottonwood, Arizona
* Peter Santilli, age 50, of Cincinnati, Ohio
We continue to work with Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward and his deputies and the United States Attorney's Office to address any further outstanding issues. As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further at this time.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
UPDATE AS OF 8:40 P.M.
From the initial law enforcement action site along Highway 395: There were additional people who were detained and have since been released.
UPDATE AS OF 8:10 P.M.
The defendant who suffered an injury in the original enforcement action has been treated and released from a local hospital. He is now in FBI custody.
UPDATE AS OF 7:45 P.M.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. (PST), the FBI arrested Peter Santilli, age 50, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Burns, Oregon. He faces the same federal felony charge as the individuals listed below. The arrest was without incident.
**note correction to Hwy. 395
At approximately 4:25 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Oregon State Police (OSP) began an enforcement action to bring into custody a number of individuals associated with the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. During that arrest, there were shots fired.
One individual who was a subject of a federal probable cause arrest is deceased. We will not be releasing any information about that person pending identification by the medical examiner's office.
One individual suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was arrested and is currently in custody.
The arrested individuals include:
* Ammon Edward Bundy, age 40, of Emmett, Idaho
* Ryan C. Bundy, age 43, of Bunkerville, Nevada
* Brian Cavalier, age 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada
* Shawna Cox, age 59, Kanab, Utah
* Ryan Waylen Payne, age 32, of Anaconda, Montana
These probable cause arrests occurred along Highway 395.
In a separate event in Burns, Oregon, at approximately 5:50 pm, Oregon State Police arrested the following individual:
* Joseph Donald O'Shaughnessy, age 45, Cottonwood, Arizona
All of the named defendants face a federal felony charge of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 372.
We continue to work with Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward and his deputies; Oregon State Police; and the United States Attorney's Office to address any further outstanding issues. As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further at this time.
All defendants should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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The FBI recognizes that many in the community have questions about why we are here and our role in helping to end the occupation of the wildlife refuge. We are here to work closely with Sheriff Ward and our local, state and federal partners to protect the safety and welfare of this community. This occupation has caused tremendous disruption and hardship for the people of Harney County, and our response has been deliberate and measured as we seek a peaceful resolution.
The FBI is working with the Harney County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police and other local and state law enforcement agencies to bring a peaceful resolution to the situation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
The FBI is the lead investigative agency for the situation at the refuge.
Due to safety considerations for both those inside the refuge as well as the law enforcement officers involved, we will not be releasing any specifics with regards to the law enforcement response.
No further information will be released tonight.
MEDIA USE ONLY
The agencies involved are establishing a Joint Information Center (JIC) with a dedicated media information phone line and email account. The Harney County Sheriff's Office is also making arrangements for a media staging area in Burns as well. Once these arrangements are finalized, we will provide the details to media.
Local, state and national media will find the most up-to-date official information at www.flashalertbend.net.
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