Malheur refuge now faces sweep for explosives, evidence
BURNS – Cleared of armed protesters Thursday, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will remain closed for weeks as investigators check for explosives, gather evidence and help the Burns Paiute Tribe assess damage to their cultural artifacts.
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies will move methodically to document alleged crimes and assess damage,
said Greg Bretzing, FBI special agent in charge in Oregon.
He also said the arrest of 25 occupiers in recent days shows that taking over federal property with the threat of violence "will not be tolerated in the United States. I hope that message has gotten out clearly."
The work of clearing the refuge started after the last four occupiers surrendered Thursday, giving up on a siege that started Jan. 2.
Bretzing said the first task for agents was to sweep the buildings at the refuge headquarters, 30 miles southeast of Burns, to ensure no protesters were lurking.
Most fled the compound in the days after occupation leader Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, 54, of Arizona, was shot and killed as he tried to flee police Jan. 26. The last four who gave up had been on their own from two days after Finicum was shot and other occupation leaders arrested. ...
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-st..._damage_assessment_fo.html#incart_maj-story-1