Malheur Refuge Surrounded, One Occupier Calls Arrests "a Dirty Trick"

The Oregon nature preserve being occupied by an armed anti-government group was surrounded by law-enforcement agents Wednesday, a day after one of the occupiers was killed by officers during a traffic stop and eight others, including the group's leader Ammon Bundy, were arrested...

...For weeks, law-enforcement vehicles have been noticeably absent from the roads around the refuge.  On Wednesday, however, marked law-enforcement cars were parked throughout the region.  The FBI and state police said they were setting up checkpoints and only allowing ranchers who own property in specific areas to pass.

About 13 miles from the refuge headquarters, a sign warned drivers to turn around because a roadblock is ahead.  Reporters and others who approached the vehicles blocking the road were met by FBI agents wearing camouflage body armour and helmets and carrying assault rifles.  A spike strip, designed to puncture tires, was laid across the pavement just beyond the roadblock...

The eight arrested Malheur militants

...Brand Thornton, one of Bundy's supporters, said he left the refuge Monday and was not sure what those remaining would do.

"The entire leadership is gone," he told the AP in a telephone interview. "I wouldn't blame any of them for leaving."

Thornton called the arrests "a dirty trick" by law enforcement.

eye'm thynkin': Yeah, law enforcement officers arresting law breakers, that's sneaky.

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