The first individual arrested in connection with the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has ties to Central Oregon and a long history of disputes with the federal government. Medenbach was arrested on probable cause for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
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Thousands of ancient artifacts and maps to prehistoric sites are kept at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
The arrest was the first made since the group took over buildings at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on January 2 in the latest conflict over the US government’s control of land in the West.
He was listed as a resident of Crescent, a town about a three hours’ drive from the federal land that a group of armed men took over two weeks ago. Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Ayn Dietrich-Williams said Medenbach’s arrest was “an appropriate action to take” during the standoff.
He was there to protest BLM demands that owners of the aging gold mine shut down their operation.
“In 1995, he was convicted on federal charges for illegally camping on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington state”. He was released from federal custody November 16 and told to not violate any state or federal laws, and to never return to the Galice property. In addition, the federal government has a Trust responsibility to the Burns Paiute Tribe to protect cultural resources on federal lands. Medenbach wrote that the filing would be mailed to the court from the post office in Burns. “If anyone has time, join me, I could use the support, to deter this oppressive government oligarchy!” He built a cabin on the property and claimed federal authorities did not have the right to own the property or evict him from it, but he did not prevail in court, and an injunction was issued barring him from the land.
Law enforcement officers recovered the vehicles, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had previously reported stolen from the wildlife refuge. Tribe Chairwoman Charlotte Rodrique sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service urging federal prosecution, if warranted.
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Hall, a Florida attorney and radio talk show host, is scheduled to lecture from 5-7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Harney County Fairgrounds.
