In the early morning hours of Jan. 27, the FBI and Oregon State Police (OSP) established a series of checkpoints at major roads in and out of the refuge. In the hours prior to the checkpoints, several vehicles are known to have left the area. Since the establishment of checkpoints, a total of eight people have left the refuge. Of those, the FBI released five and arrested three.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the FBI made probable cause arrests of Duane Leo Ehmer, age 45, of Irrigon, and Dylan Wade Anderson, age 34, of Provo, Utah. At approximately 7:40 p.m., agents made a probable cause arrest of Jason S. Patrick, age 43, of Bonaire, Ga. All were in contact with the FBI, and each chose to turn himself into agents at a checkpoint outside the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The arrests were without incident.
Each man faces one federal felony count of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 372.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The FBI and their partners continue to work around the clock to empty the refuge of the armed occupiers in the safest way possible.