By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
The occupation of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon ended peacefully after 41 tumultuous days.
The four remaining occupiers surrendered to authorities Thursday morning.
Three of the four occupiers were taken into custody without incident, but one occupier stayed behind and insisted he would not come out of the refuge “unless my grievances are heard,” The Washington Post reported.
The lone holdout, identified as David Fry, was agitated and said on a telephone call that he didn’t “want to be put behind bars” and was having suicidal thoughts.
Shortly after, authorities converged on Fry and arrested him.
FBI agents decided to surround the final occupiers Wednesday afternoon after one of them drove outside of the group’s encampment in what appeared to be a stolen all-terrain vehicle.
“It has never been the FBI’s desire to engage these armed occupiers in any way other than through dialogue, and to that end, the FBI has negotiated with patience and restraint in an effort to resolve the situation peacefully,” Greg Bretzing, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Oregon division, said in a statement. “However, we reached a point where it became necessary to take action in a way that best ensured the safety of those on the refuge, the law enforcement officers who are on scene, and the people of Harney County who live and work in this area.”
