The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office released video footage Tuesday shot from Ryan Bundy’s cellphone in the moments before and after police shot wildlife refuge occupier Robert “LaVoy” Finicum.
Ryan Bundy, the brother of Ammon Bundy, was one of the leaders of the occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The footage is shot from inside Finicum’s truck during a fatal Oregon State Police traffic stop Jan. 26.
“We got too lackadaisical trying to speak to people,” Ryan Bundy said in the video after Finicum died. “But anyway they ambushed us on the way to John Day.”
Finicum, an Arizona rancher and another leader of the refuge occupation, was killed by law enforcement during the traffic stop operation. Investigators with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Harney and Malheur County district attorneys declared the shots that killed him justified and “necessary.”
The video from Bundy’s cellphone shows the same time period as the cellphone video captured by occupier Shawna Cox, who also traveled inside Finicum’s truck the day of the Jan. 26 shooting.
There is zero doubt regarding the murder of LaVoy Finicum that OSP and FBI HRT, set this up, a kill box. due diligence, I AM a retired Oregon Police Officer, from two counties away. While from a grand jury standpoint, this murder was never going to see the inside of a court room for criminal charges, that’s just how police shootings work, I DO NOT AGREE with the white washing of Justice.
In reviewing the Deschutes County Reports, I’ve never read such garbage. Specifically, Officer #1 stating all OSP SWAT had been called to HQ in Salem Or, and briefed on the” anti United Nations” position of Grant County and many Malhur County citizens, that their existed an anti United Nations authority sentiment.
I’m appalled. Shouldn’t EVERY US citizen be anti UN, operating within the
United States of America. This is simply astounding. To think that our State Police were actually called in and briefed on ” what their political positions should be.
Shot three times in The Back while maybe reaching for a gun.
Listen I’m unaware of ANY situation in which the police can set a road block in a poorly placed location, on a curve and leave I think the report said 360 feet of roadway to stop a vehicle traveling at 70 mph.
And THEN shoot at the vehicle” because you were afraid for your life. Since when can the Police create a set of ” Exedient Circumstances ” and then use that created deadly situation to fire on a moving vehicle. Without consequences.
Had LaVoy been a threat and intended to kill police officers, then ramming the hasty road block would have accomplished that quickly. LaVoy did a fantastic job of missing the road block and getting stopped WITHOUT, causing injury to the police. His actions demonstrated his intent to NOT INJURE others.
HRT policing their brass. Concealing evidence. I’m appalled, and to recently learn that these same FBI HRT. Members are still actively on duty, in Langley, simply adds to the clear intent of this murder.
Sadly I recognize that the FBI’s actions are a ” Learned” behavior. We will eventually learn that the FBI have been taught/ instructed to recover their brass, and that this will not have been the first time FBI HRT, has committed this crime of, crime scene tampering.
We will learn that this tactic is an ongoing event, that multiple crime scenes
through out the United States.
I am appalled I did 24/25 years and have never seen such madness, what has happened, is it recruitment issues, or is it training issues. We live in a small community, and even locally the city police are looking like storm troopers, vest, M4’s on calls.
Many of my past associates privately agree that law enforcement is changing, evolving into something never intended. Sadly their trapped 20 years in and to reach retirement they must do 25 or until their 55. They feel trapped, because they are trapped.
In closing I would share this. I know many men who were sent to Burns Oregon to assist. I know some of the OSP SWAT members, and have argued my view of the Murder of LaVoy Finicum. While we were not in agreement, and. I’m sure I damaged long relationships.
I can not stand by and NOT call this Murder exactly what it was. I can not Speak up, in fact I feel I have a duty to step up and call this sad sad event exactly what it is, a murder of a fellow US Citizen.
I pity my fellow retired officers who clearly recognize what has happened, yet do zero about it. Saying nothing.
Not standing up, Not speaking out especially as a retired, or active police officer, is excepting the breakdown of law enforcement within the US.
Honesty Integraty , loyalty to, We The People,IS what being a Police Officer is all about.
In closing I would like to share this Pearl. About 14 years ago the SCOTUS, handed down a finding, a definition of how/ what police duties are. It goes something like this.
The duty of the Police is to investigate, and arrest. SCOTUS, states that The Police have zero duty to protect citizens from harm or death.
When I read this SCOTUS definition I was heart broken, ” no duty to protect” WTF.
In a class I attended the instructor clearly defined that finding to mean this.
It is the duty of the Police to protect the infrastructure, from the people.Not the duty to protect the people from the infrastructure. Folks Please READ this part again, and again until you understand exactly how this game is rigged.
LaVoy Finicum had become the de facto leader of a FREEDOM movement. A natural born leader, no bravado, no threats of violence, however he was a threat to the INFRASTRUCTURE, for that, he was murdered by the Oregon State Police.
Respectfully.
Dirk Williams
Retired Police Officer Oregon
Retired Deputy Sheriff California