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A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 22 February

Four men being tried in second Oregon standoff trial

STEVEN DUBOIS naire, Georgia; Darryl Thorn Andrew Kohlmetz, an at-
Associated Press of Marysville, Washington; torney representing Patrick,
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The and Jake Ryan of Plains, countered that the beliefs
federal prosecutors who Montana. The men, all free of the men are at the heart
failed to convict Ammon on their own recognizance, of the case, because they
Bundy returned to court waived their right to a are what drove them to
Tuesday to try four lesser- speedy trial last fall, prefer- the refuge. He told the Port-
known men who followed ring to have more time to land jury of seven women
Bundy’s call to take a hard prepare. and five men that imped-
stand against the govern- Three of them are also ing workers was not one of
ment and occupy a na- charged with possessing a those beliefs and there was
tional wildlife refuge in Or- firearm in a federal facility. no conspiracy.
egon. Two are charged with dep- “The evidence will fail to
Like the defendants in redation of government show that a single person
the first trial, the primary property. went there with the con-
charge facing the men They were among the scious desire or goal to in-
is conspiracy to impede more than two dozen men terfere with anyone who
Interior Department em- and women who answered worked there,” Kohlmetz
ployees from doing their In this 2016 photo, a protestor, who would only identify himself Bundy’s call to occupy the said.
jobs at the refuge through as Robert, flies an upside down United States flag outside the Malheur National Wildlife The protesters gained con-
the use of force, threats or federal courthouse in Portland, Ore., during the trial for Ammon Refuge to protest federal trol of the refuge on Jan.
intimidation. Bundy, Ryan Bundy and five others. The federal prosecutors who control of Western lands 2, 2016. The Bundys were
failed to convict Ammon Bundy returned to court Tuesday to try
Assistant U.S. Attorney four lesser-known men who followed Bundy’s call to take a hard and the imprisonment of arrested in a Jan. 26 traffic
Geoffrey Barrow spent a stand against the government and occupy a national wildlife two ranchers convicted stop away from the refuge
good portion of his open- refuge in Oregon. of setting fires on public that ended with police fa-
ing statement telling jurors (AP Photo/Don Ryan) rangeland. tally shooting Robert “La-
that a conspiracy does not “The defendants are not Voy” Finicum, an occupa-
have to include people there was no written agree- eral employees from going being tried for their politi- tion spokesman. Most oc-
gathering around a con- ment, but said circum- to work. cal beliefs, no matter how cupiers left the refuge after
ference table and drafting stantial evidence will show The four defendants are baseless, radical and ridic- Finicum’s death, but a few
a written agreement. there was a “meeting of Duane Ehmer of Irrigon, Or- ulous they may be,” Barrow holdouts remained until
Barrow acknowledged the minds” to prevent fed- egon; Jason Patrick of Bo- told jurors. Feb. 11, 2016.q

Houston police:

No injuries amid reports of hospital gunfire

MICHAEL GRACZYK tect gunfire found no evi- and some patients were
Associated Press dence and that normal op- evacuated. Patients on
HOUSTON (AP) — No one erations at Ben Taub Hospi- gurneys or in wheelchairs
was found injured and tal, one of the city’s major continued to be cared for
there was no evidence trauma centers, were re- outside the hospital. About
that a shooting happened suming. Officers were left two hours later, they were
amid reports of gunfire on each floor as a precau- being returned inside.
Tuesday inside a hospital at tion. The hospital has nearly Police searched all six floors
the Texas Medical Center 500 beds. and the basement of the
in Houston, authorities said. Witnesses reported hear- hospital, then conducted
“I can’t say there was no ing “two large bangs,” the a second search to make
shooting,” Houston Police chief said. sure nothing was missed,
Chief Art Acevedo said. “It’s a hospital,” he said. Acevedo said. Authorities
“I am confident if there “Who knows what the also hope to examine sur-
was a threat, that threat is bangs were?” veillance videos as part of
not present here now. We He said police received their investigation.
have thoroughly searched multiple reports of gunfire The hospital declared a
this facility on more than Tuesday afternoon, and “code white” emergency,
one occasion. There is no dozens of officers and a an internal designation that
reason to fear.” SWAT team responded. set evacuations and other
He said dogs trained to de- Hundreds of employees protocols in motion. q