Witness: Refuge less tense than town during armed standoff
PORTLAND, Ore. — A witness testifying for the defence Monday in the trial of Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy and others charged in the armed takeover of an Oregon bird sanctuary said the place was peaceful during the occupation, a sharp contrast to what he saw as an over-the-top police response.
Pat Horlacher, of Burns, Oregon, said he drove to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge shortly after the occupation because he wanted to see for himself if reports of a dangerous situation were true.
The silversmith said he drove right in and met the Bundy brothers and Robert “LaVoy” Finicum. “It was as laid-back an environment as you could ever ask for,” he said.
Horlacher said he tried to meet Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward, but he had no luck getting through heavy security. He said key government buildings were protected by armed police and federal agents.