Five charged in alleged plot to kidnap or kill troopers, judge (Alaska Sovereign Citizens)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Anchorage Daily News

Five people in the Fairbanks area were arrested Thursday by state and federal law enforcement on charges connected with a plot to kidnap or kill state troopers and a Fairbanks judge, according to the Alaska State Troopers.

Francis "Schaeffer" Cox, Lonnie Vernon, Karen Vernon, Coleman Barney and Michael Anderson are accused of conspiring to commit murder, kidnapping, and arson, as well as weapons misconduct, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence, according to trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters in a written statement late Thursday.

An investigation "revealed extensive plans to kidnap or kill Alaska state troopers and a Fairbanks Judge," the statement said. The plans included "extensive surveillance" on the homes of two Fairbanks troopers, the statement said.

"Investigation also revealed that extensive surveillance on troopers in the Fairbanks area had occurred, specifically on the locations of the homes for two Alaska state troopers," the statement said. "Furthermore, Cox et. al. had acquired a large cache of weapons in order to carry out attacks against their targeted victims. Some of the weapons known to be in the cache are prohibited by state or federal law."



Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/03/10/1748613/man-who-threatened-judge.html

[Boswell]

1. was this one of SP's sucession groups?

[Angry Dragon]

2. Damn Muslims are at it again

I wonder if king will have some of these people testify at his very open meetings??

[itsrobert]

3. Why is Sarah and Todd Palin palling around with terrorist?

?

[Boswell]

11. again

[uppityperson]

4. There are nuts in AK. (link to facebook page) Interesting mixture of people there,

most wanting to be their own people. But indeed some nuts. Can we call these guys terrorists?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1187280836

[Democat]

5. Is this a group associated with Todd Palin?

Wasn't he into some of these type of groups?

[Steerpike]

6. I've spoken with these people before...

they are pretty out there "gun rights" extremists. True believers and dangerous nutcases. Too bad they give A lot of Alaskans bad names. No one really wants to be associated with them. Not SP or Todd or anyone in the mainstream (or reasonable facsimile). They don't accept the authority of the courts or law inforcement.
I really felt pity for them when I spoke with them. They really think they are patriots ready to sacrifice their freedoms for their politics.
deluded

delusions

misled

[Ian David]

7. With ‘Sovereign Citizen’ Movement Growing, New SPLC Video Promotes Law Enforcement Safety

With ‘Sovereign Citizen’ Movement Growing, New SPLC Video Promotes Law Enforcement Safety

The so-called “sovereign citizens” movement — men and women who believe they are exempt from most state and federal laws, regulations and tax codes — is spreading like a prairie fire. While many of these are tax resistors or perpetrators of “paper terrorism” – the filing of nuisance liens and such – some sovereign citizens have demonstrated a willingness to resist police and government authority with violence.

The unique danger posed by this movement exploded May 20 when two West Memphis, Ark., police officers met a father-son team of sovereigns, Jerry and Joe Kane, during a routine late-morning traffic stop. As officers Brandon Paudert and Bill Evans puzzled over the incomprehensible paperwork presented by father Jerry, son Joe, 16, emerged from the vehicle with his AK-47 blazing and fatally shot both officers. The Kanes fled, but were tracked and killed in a shootout with police an hour later in a Wal-Mart parking lot after wounding two more officers.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has produced and posted online an instructional video intended for showing during roll call at law enforcement agencies. Narrating the 12-minute film are two men who fully understand the dangers some sovereigns present to authorities: West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert, father of one of officers murdered in May by Joe Kane, and Jim Cavanaugh, who retired earlier this year after 33 years at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Cavanaugh was a top official at the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas, during the five-year hunt for abortion clinic bomber and cop-killer Eric Rudolph, and in many other investigations involving right-wing radicals. Last year, he was honored for this work with the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Civil Rights Award.

More:
http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2010/11/01/sovereign-citizen-movement-growing-new-splc-video-promotes-law-enforcement-safety/

[Arctic Dave]

8. These guys were more of jo(k)e miller's homeys.

Although there views are not that fair from party repug views on a lot of things even though will try to distance themselves.

[Historic NY]

9. More right wing terrorists the government warned about.

[Steerpike]

10. Totally brainwashed

by the right wing media!

[Bandit]

12. Never heard of "Alaska Sovereign Citizens"

What can that be I wonder?

[villager]

13. Alaska Militia Members Arrested for Plot to Kidnap or Kill Police

Source: Media Matters

BREAKING: Alaska Militia Members Arrested for Plot to Kidnap or Kill Police

Five members and associates of a Fairbanks, Alaska, right-wing militia group were arrested yesterday for allegedly plotting to kidnap or kill Alaska State Troopers and a state judge.

The five include Francis "Schaeffer" Cox, the founder and leader of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia. Cox also founded a pro-gun group and advocates armed resistance to gun control.

Cox and the other defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to commit arson, in addition to gun charges and other crimes.

According to an Alaska Department of Public Safety statement, an investigation of the militia group "revealed extensive plans to kidnap or kill Alaska State Troopers and a Fairbanks Judge."

<snip>

Read more: http://mediamatters.org/blog/201103110013

---

Ah, those "law and order" rightwingers...

[madmax]

14. Welcome to Palin country. nt

[AKDavy]

18. The funny thing is...

Here in Alaska, Palin is basically a nobody these days. It's only in the Lower 48 that she has the cult following.

Palin does not equal Alaska.

[madmax]

28. You guys know her better

my sympathies. Never a fan of Gramps McCain but, wow he unleashed a big pain in the ass with that nomination.

[AKDavy]

29. Nobody here could really understand the choice

She was a halfway decent half governor. She actually stood up to the oil companies, which is more than our past Democratic governors would do.

The national stage seems to have gone to her head, and the echo drove her insane.

She still has a following in Wasilla--a town my Inuit wife calls "a bunch of pissed-off white people," and some following among the militia and crank crowd in Fairbanks and a few religious towns (e.g. Glennallen).

[madmax]

30. That's very interesting.

Maybe it was the attention and of course $$ always helps.

I remember the fist time I saw her on tv at a rally - I think it was a school gymnasium. Large group of school cheerleaders. She seemed nervous and super UP. Later the press captured her shoes - Peep-Toes Cracked me up.

[EFerrari]

32. 'her objections were mostly political and entirely pointless"

Sarah Palin and Big Oil

Snip

Palin also stood up against the big oil companies, including BP, over the proposed pipeline. But, according to McGinniss, her objections were mostly political and entirely pointless.

In 2007 she passed the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, which offered $500 million of the state's money to explore the possibility of a pipeline. But, riding on a wave of anti-oil-company sentiment in her state, the money came under Palin's terms—which, reported McGinniss, seemed designed to specifically preclude BP, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips.

The contract eventually went to a Canadian company called TransCanada. The problem was that TransCanada did not have any gas itself; it would still inevitably be forced to deal with oil companies in order to get the product flowing profitably through the pipe. By 2008, then-CEO Harold Kvisle was saying he wasn't sure whether the pipeline he had planned, after taking $500 million from Alaska, would ever get built. Inevitably, he sought the cooperation of the big oil companies.

Today, the first line on TransCanada's Alaska Pipeline Project Web site, reads thus: "TransCanada and ExxonMobil are working together to advance the Alaska Pipeline Project."

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/09/sarah-palin-and-big-oil.html

[Steerpike]

37. Mcginnis is a wad of toilet paper

Palin was instrumental in forcing the legislature that put an excess profits tax on the oil companies here. She redistributed the extra money to every man women and child in the state. I used the money to buy a house for my family. She blocked passage of legislature that would take away rights of gay civil servants to ensure partners. She refused to call a special session to overturn a law that gave underaged girls the right to have an abortion without parental permission. She kept one boot on the back of the oil companies and a firm hand on the religeous right.
She used to show potential...
Now I suppose she is playing in ther circus that makes a tubload of money and assuages her bruised ego.

[EFerrari]

39. So, who was running the office because there's nothing she's done

before or after that indicates she herself did anything of the sort. Oh, and blocking young women from having abortions without parental permission is not as transparent a good as you seem to believe.

[Steerpike]

40. Good morning

you are wrong...

[Steerpike]

42. also

you seem to misunderstand what I said. She enabled a law to ALLOW underaged girls to have abortions. The religeous right here wanted to call a special legislative session to overturn the law...but, she refused. The law allowed for young girls who had been raped or molested or who might be in danger from their pregnancy to have an abortion, without parental permission.

is it clear now.

since you don't live here I can understand your ignorance on the actual history of her administration...as it unfolded it was a constant source of humor and bewilderment. As a Democrat who has voted many times for D's who wind up disapointing...Tony Knowles, Mark Begich, Obama etc etc...it was often laugh out loud funny to see the Repugs go to all out war with each other over the things that Palin did. It was political theatre at it's finest.

[LynneSin]

31. Make that 47 - Delaware is still pissed she interfered with our elections

I mean, without her Chris Coons wouldn't have won, but Mike Castle is very well beloved throughout the state by both parties. And we are really getting annoyed with Christine O'Donnell - she really needs to go away. Thanks Sarah :grr:

[snagglepuss]

15. Someone should bring this to King's attention.

[Plucketeer]

17. Good idea!

Start screening Alaskans. All those guns and all that practice at killing living things! They're just waiting for the code words from Wasilla! :rofl:!!

[glinda]

27. King and Cravaack should be questioned next on Christian terrorists.

[Posteritatis]

41. I think people did so recently

He flatly refused to consider anyone other than Muslims as a homegrown terrorist threat.

[CanonRay]

16. That's five less Palin voters

Paging Representative King, paging Representative King!

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. I'm glad they're taking these things seriously.

[Kennah]

20. I recall from the mid 90s' ...

... watching a network news program, perhaps 20/20, of some militia activity out in either Montana or Idaho.

Militias in Montana or Idaho? I know, right, seriously. :sarcasm:

A group of about 8 or 10 had walked into a local Sheriff's Office, with whatever grievance they had, or citizen's arrest warrant, or some such shit. Anywho, the very alert and aware Deputy sees 8 or 10 guys walk in, openly carrying, and spouting whatever non-sense. He grabbed a pump shotgun, took up a cover position, jacked a round into the chamber, and took 'em all at gunpoint. Don't know if any charges were filled or the outcome. However, the Deputy was relating the events, so he was obviously OK.

I think LE, particularly out in far flung regions, understand they walk an exceedingly thin blue line, and it's thinning. The danger is that you push them into a higher state of alert, and it increases the likelihood of someone taking a round in the chest or head, innocent or otherwise.

If I were a rural LEO in some parts, I wouldn't patrol without an AR-15 rifle.

[speltwon]

22. I have a buddy I used to work with who is an Alaska Trooper

I love those guys. Very bad-ass. I hope the state hits these fuckmunches with the full prosecutorial force.

[Kennah]

23. I have friends who are cops, but I've never met any Alaska Troopers

My sense is that they personify speaking softly but carrying a big stick.

[speltwon]

26. They, like many state troopers and sheriff's deputies

often work isolated areas alone and/or with minimal backup. Thus, they tend to be more self-sufficient and better at verbal negotiation, since that is often all they have. Also, they tend to have to rely much more on citizen cooperation. Like if they are arresting the one bad guy, they may have to rely on others townspeople etc. for help if shit goes bad, so they do a very good job at trying to maintain good relations with the community as a whole. Essentially, it's old skool Andy Griffith "community policing".

Of course, I will always reflexively make fun of troopers as "concrete commandos" and not real cops, but that's a requirement of spending many years as a "real cop". :)

In Alaska, troopers do the traditional highway safety schtick, but in unincorporated areas and sparsely populated areas they take on the traditional role that county sheriffs take on in the Pac NW. Patrol and general policing.

[Steerpike]

38. Troopers here

are not well liked by the people in the villages. Many cases of bad interactions in the past. Sexual abuse of native women...illegal beatings...unpopular enforcement of game laws...lack of commitment to rescue of natives...lack of commitment in murder investigations...and killings of innocent people, including native women...

they are not the most beloved of people by anyone here...well maybe a few.

[fascisthunter]

21. more right wing terrorism.... and AGAIN not Muslim

[Tx4obama]

24. Wonder if Palin knows any of these folks?

The ones arrested and/or the ones that were going to be kidnapped/killed.
I hope someone is investigating any Palin ties.

[Voice for Peace]

25. Alaska Peacemakers???

:crazy:

[onehandle]

33. .

[onehandle]

34. 'Pro-Gun Group.'

Color me surprised.

[StarryNite]

35. Hard to pin this on the Muslims

"Evans and the younger Paudert were the latest of at least 32 law enforcement officials murdered by right-wing extremists since the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing."

[RamboLiberal]

36. Update from Anchorage Daily News - 241 Plot (Two for one)

-----

The militia members amassed high-powered weaponry, including grenades and .30- and .50-caliber machine guns, with which to carry out retaliatory strikes against law enforcement officials, according to court documents.

Another man, Michael Anderson, 36, is listed in a separate indictment on similar charges for compiling a list of targets and their addresses and engaging in surveillance to enable the plot. Anderson is also being held pending $2 million in bail.

-----


Cox wanted militia members to respond with violence if authorities tried to arrest him on the misdemeanor warrant, the charging documents say. He allegedly told the militia members, "I know you're ready to die, but you have to be ready to kill," according to an FBI recording referred to in the criminal complaint.

"At that February 12th meeting COX specifically unveiled his "241" (two for one) plan which called for his militia to respond to attempts to arrest or kill him by responding against state court or law enforcement targets with twice the force and consequences as happened to him or his family," according to the criminal complaint. "If he was arrested, two state targets would be "arrested" (kidnapped). If he was killed, two state targets would be killed. If his house was taken, two state target houses would be burned."


Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/03/11/1750269/fairbanks-man-plotted-to-kill.html#ixzz1GQoq8nhx

Read more: http://www.adn.com/2011/03/11/1750269/fairbanks-man-plotted-to-kill.html#ixzz1GQoe0FSO