An Oregon militia man who was occupying the Malheur Wildlife Refuge was arrested Friday after law enforcement found him driving a stolen federally-owned vehicles into the local Safeway for supplies.
A statement from the Harney County Sheriff’s office said:
An individual is in custody in connection with stolen Malheur National Wildlife Refuge vehicles.
Shortly after noon on Friday, January 15, 2016, Oregon State Police arrested Kenneth Medenbach, 62, of Crescent, Oregon, at the Safeway in Burns, Oregon. He was arrested on probable cause for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Law enforcement officers recovered two vehicles stolen from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) had previously reported the vehicles stolen to the Harney County Sheriff’s Office.
OSP troopers and deputies from several county Sheriff’s offices responded to the scene.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is grateful for the quick actions from law enforcement,” said USFWS spokesperson Megan Nagel. “We will continue to work with law enforcement to recover vehicles bought and paid for by the American people to care for their national wildlife refuge.”
first arrest made of #bundymilitia – two fed vehicles from compound were driven to Safeway. vehicles now impounded pic.twitter.com/RM94eKj2Uh
— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 15, 2016
According to the Sheriff, only one driver was arrested but two vehicles were found. Both featured new stickers that read “Harney County Resource Center” to cover the U.S. Fish and Wildlife logos, which is the new name the militia are insisting be used for the Malheur Refuge.
Supporters of Bundy take down two cameras they believe to be installed by the @FBI #OregonStandoff pic.twitter.com/AvgNINeUln — Wanda Moore (@WandaKTVZ) January 15, 2016
The Bundy militia also started removing surveillance equipment from the area after finding what appears to be a FBI listening device on the phone line. Whether it belongs to the U.S. government or the Fish and Wildlife, the militia members are making good on their promise to take down surveillance equipment
Featured image via libertynews.com
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