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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Vehicles Stolen From Occupied Refuge Found

BURNS, Ore. (CN) - Oregon police arrested a man in connection with two government vehicles stolen from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, which is currently occupied by self-proclaimed militia men.

Oregon State Police and deputies from several county sheriff's offices arrested Kenneth Medenbach, 62, just after noon on Friday.

Medenbach was in the parking lot of the Safeway in Burns, about 30 miles from where Ammon Bundy and an estimated two dozen supporters have been holed up since seizing the offices of the wildlife refuge on Jan. 3.

A spokesman for the Harney County Joint Information Center could not confirm whether Medenbach was part of the Bundy compound, but people camped out there have been making regular trips into Burns for supplies. Police have not stopped them.

The stolen vehicles apparently belonged to the U.S. government, based on a statement made by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman Megan Nagel.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is grateful for the quick actions from law enforcement," Nagel said. "We will continue to work with law enforcement to recover vehicles bought and paid for by the American people to care for their national wildlife refuge."

Fish and Wildlife had previously reported the two vehicles stolen, the Harney County Sheriff's Office said.

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