It is important to read the individuals recounting thoroughly before passing judgment, many readers support a police state saying as my own mother says, “they are authority” the question raised for most of us however is, who gives them “this authority?” This was originally published on a solid source for news and opinion from a point of view that generally leaves the government out of it, located here – expand your horizons.
Sierra Vista, AZ -In the recent days my home town of Sierra Vista, Arizona has been under siege from two distinct threats. The first is a large fire that has caused hundreds of evacuations, dozens of lost homes and will likely end up costing tens of millions of dollars in lost productivity and belongings. The second threat is one with far greater consequences to the people living here: a large influx of police from many areas of Arizona, with the National Guard on their way.
During the fire, locals have been helping others, opening their homes and generally doing what individuals do when trouble occurs. I myself have opened my home up and will continue to do what I can to help others for as long as I am able. The real problem right now is not necessarily the fire itself which, while threatening an entire town, is at least something that can be eventually recovered from. The real problem is the police action that is occurring in ever increasing ways.
On Friday, June 17th, at approximately 14:00 a fire began on Fort Huachuca directly across from Buffalo Soldier Trail under the location of the aerostat recently lost by the United States Air Force. Very quickly this fire began to blaze up and soon looked as if it was out of control. The various information agencies and law enforcement agencies in town began releasing conflicting stories; that the military started it accidentally, or that it was a controlled burn. Regardless, the fire itself was on the fort, which had severely restricted access at this time.
At the time of the fire, from 14:00 until about 16:48 local time, there were several stories running rampant regarding the cause of the fire. Unfortunately, these stories caused several disheartening events to occur. One local man was forcibly removed from his vehicle by over a dozen law enforcement agents, including several United States Border Patrol agents and two Pinal County sheriff’s officers. This was done under the faulty misconception and “suspicion” that he matched the description of the “man” who had started the fire on post. When this reporter contacted the Sierra Vista Police Department, Officer Grady claimed to have no knowledge of any of these events, but according to the individual who was detained two SVPD officers did attempt to secure his release. However, this was not noted by SVPD for release through Officer Grady.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer was unavailable to return calls at this time – As was the Border Patrol Public Information Officer. This particular fire was started by the United States Department of Army. It burned over 2500 acres and without the quick actions of fire bombers and civilian fire response teams it would have engulfed a large portion of the middle of Sierra Vista.
Here in the words of one individual harassed by them during this time, who wishes to remain anonymous due to ongoing action. Verification of information was necessary resulting in additional lengths of time being taken however, as a result the story is as complete as can be at this point. -JM
Incident Report June 17th, -
I was sitting on side of the road on Yaqui using my cell phone, after being turned away from performing a service call. After about five minutes, a Border Patrol (BP) agent pulled up behind me and came up to passenger window that was down. He asked me what I was doing, I said sitting on side of road using cell phone. He then said there was a suspicious vehicle seen leaving the area. He then asked for Id I told him I didn’t have my wallet on me. So he asked me for my name so I gave it to him, then he asked for phone number and where I lived. I was very polite and gave requested information. He then asked what I was doing in the area, I told him I was doing a service call when the fire started, it looked close so I went up the street to see where the fire was at. I watched the fire go from FT Huachuca to Cherokee Avenue in about 45 minutes. I was low on fuel so I went down to the AZ fuel stop and waited to fire to subside. It looked ok so I went back to Yaqui for service call. The Sheriff and some kind of ranger were across street with lights on turning people away. So I told him I was here to do a service call, he said no reschedule the call. So I went down to the end of street to use cell phone and text the office of my 20.
Back to the Sheriff’s Deputy at the top of road, it is important to remember I was coming up Yaqui at this point. As I was turning around the Deputy stood up on his toes and looked into the back of my truck. It was weird but the expression on his face was the most disturbing, how do I know; 16 years of owning my own service business I have learned to read faces.
So the BP agent came back to my window and asked to see my registration I said sure and handed it to him. He came back real quick and asked to search the vehicle, I said NO. Now the look on his face was not suspicion or distrust but one of anger / as he pursed his lips; so a few minutes later several vehicles pull up behind me and a BP car pulls up in front of my truck cross ways to block my path. This agent got out of his car and was noticeably pissed off. He also had tightly pursed lips. And gave me a stare down as he approached the passenger window; he asked me to turn off the truck and hand him the keys. I did as he asked. He then said he would put them right up on the top of truck, and then reassured me they were right there by tapping top of truck. He turned away then turned back and said, place your hands on the steering wheel kind of an afterthought. At this point I know he is looking for furtive movements, about this time two female officers approach the driver side and the one on the right told me to roll down the window in an agitated voice. I told her other officer took my keys. She said unlock the door. It took me time to think as I was trying not to make any furtive movements with the hands on the wheel. She again said unlock it I think she said with hand, or looked down with head movement motioning to manual lock. So I reached over and unlocked door. She opened the door and said Please step out of the vehicle, I asked am I being detained. (I still have on my seat belt) I also know any sudden movement is a dead man move as it will be stated later using circular reasoning (begging the question) that I made a furtive movement. I believed I was being set up for justifying force against me, wanting me to use sudden movement, which they were agitating me to make a hurried motion to undo my seat-belt and step out of my vehicle. She yelled “what do think” I asked again am I being detained, she yelled “look around you.” I asked again am I being detained at this point the officer on the left said get out of the vehicle or I will remove you. I asked am I being detained. She then initiated force making a movement to undo my seat-belt reaching toward me. At this time she said you’re being detained. I said OK and started to remove my seat-belt and step out of the vehicle, they then ushered me to the back of the truck and started to pat me down. At this point I noticed at least a dozen officers standing around with pissed off looks on their faces. About this time two Sierra Vista Police officers stopped their vehicle and the lead officer walked across the street with is hand up stating “its OK, its OK, he is (name removed for safety) a local plumber,” I think he said something about he could vouch for me. He was trying to defuse an explosive situation. He had to have heard some serious radio chatter because he just walked up. Every action after me refusing to have my vehicle searched was up to this point was one to agitate me and get me to initiate some kind of action that I know would have been re explained as “furtive or reasonable threat or some other kind of circular reasoning bullshit.” The only officers there to serve and protect was the Sierra Vista PD. All the other officers lacked critical thinking skills and where trying to agitate me; begging the question, lack of reasonable suspicion, flat out lying about my vehicle and persona matching suspect vehicle leaving the fire in a hurry, with a broken back window. I was headed up the road when I got turned around. I talked to an officer why didn’t he stop me. I was sitting at the bottom of the road for five minutes. Leaving in a hurry bs. The fire was man made. Yes but a lie of omission, It was started by “man” on a bulldozer making a fire line, at least six miles away on a military installation. Leaving the scene in a hurry, first off the scene of what? Plus I was sitting at the end of the road. After 16 years of dealing with the public I know pantomimes. From the second the BP agent pursed his lips. I was in a fight for my life. Talk about starting a fire and watch it blow out of proportion. This whole fire started as illegal’s started a fire to keep BP from chasing them knowing they have to divert recourse’s to fight the fire. The Agents in charge did the exact same thing to me; they agitated me knowing I would have to divert recourse’s to “fight” the bullshit, knowing they can just blame it on me later using circular reasoning. They are no better than the original fire starters in my opinion. They used the exact same terrorist tactics, fear and initiated force against me. No way to imagine my horror, I was flat out terrorized by thugs, with badges. There is no way it can be justified without logical errors of circular reasoning, (No you can’t search my vehicle is not reasonable anything. It is my legal right.) And were never justified in any action taken against me; It upsets me to think I can’t defend myself against unjustified actions, and what would have happened if SV PD had not showed up.
I can only thank the Sierra Vista Police officers who helped me. It was only after the Sierra Vista PD actions that I felt safe to let him search my vehicle. He asked and I had no problem with him searching my vehicle. The SVPD officer had a completely different demeanor, body language and actions.
End report –
It should be noted that I did again attempt to contact the various agencies in charge and none of them were or currently are willing to release information at this time.-JM
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