A newly released 33-page criminal complaint report is outlining the reasons for the arrest of eight occupiers of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon. The report also details a story directly involving two of the protesters from Arizona, Jon Ritzheimer and Joe O’Shaughnessy.
In the report a citizen of Burns, Oregon, says Ritzheimer and O’Shaughnessy started yelling at her in a grocery store because her shirt said BLM, as in Bureau of Land Management. She said Ritzheimer threatened to follow her home and burn down her house.
The woman goes on to say that the truck she watched the men leave in later parked in front of her home and her job. She also recounts an incident the following week, which she believes to be connected, where a truck with a rebel flag sticker on the back aggressively tailgated her, nearly running her off the road.
The criminal report also said that the group had explosives and night-vision goggles and was prepared to fight.
On Wednesday night, friends of Ritzheimer posted on his Facebook page, asking for character references to aid in his defense. Ritzheimer is due back in court Feb. 2. The suspects arrested in Oregon will appear in court again on Friday and will be given a chance to argue their case before a judge.
