First Malheur National Wildlife Refuge protester arrested, accused of driving stolen vehicle

The vehicle, and another next to it, had signs that said “Harney County Resource Center”, on them, the name protesters have given to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, according to the news website.

“The more pledges we get, the more pressure there is for them to leave”, said Zach Klonoski, a Portlander who works for Mayor Charlie Hales.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images Lavoy Finicum climbs a ladder to remove cameras from an electric pole that he said was placed there by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to spy on his group as they occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore.

Oregon State Police arrested a 62-year-old man who was driving a stolen Malheur National Wildlife Refuge vehicle in Burns Friday afternoon. The agency runs the wildlife refuge.

The armed activists occupying a national wildlife refuge in southeastern OR clashed with environmentalists Saturday as a standoff stretched into a 15th day.

Ammon’s brother, Ryan Bundy, said that occupiers were not interested in disrupting Native history.

The group at the ranch has driven road graders and other large construction equipment around the refuge headquarters buildings, but Bundy said Thursday they haven’t used the machinery to move any earth.

Bundy and his followers say they want to give the land back to the people.

Burns, nearby Hines and the local area have been in an economic tailspin for decades after the loss of a lumber mill that some blamed on federal restrictions involving timber harvests. Among other risks, tribal officials worry that the artifacts might end up on eBay if the group is allowed to stay on the land much longer.

The Bundys had planned a meeting with community members Friday night, but it was in limbo after county officials said they couldn’t use the fairgrounds.

Tribe Chairwoman Charlotte Rodrique says she feels helpless knowing that her ancestors’ possessions and remains are now in the hands of the armed group angry about federal land policy. Videos posted online by the occupiers show them sitting at desks in the refuge offices and using government computers that contain maps and sensitive details about the location of Paiute artifacts.

More than 300 recorded prehistoric sites are scattered across the refuge, including burial grounds, ancient villages and petroglyphs. “There are things to learn from cultures of the past, but the current culture is the most important”.

In a Facebook message to supporters of the mine operators, Medenbach said he expected to go to jail for his belief that BLM – and the federal government – had no jurisdiction over the mine property.