DOJ Report on Ruby Ridge.
[link|http://web3.foxinternet.net/djf/ruby001.htm#tab|Here]. I assume it's authentic.
[link|http://web3.foxinternet.net/djf/Ruby007.htm#R07I03|IV.C.2. Statement of Facts] excerpts:
In late September 1991, Hunt and Ely interviewed Beverly and Ed Torrence, who owned land adjacent to the Weaver property. The Torrences explained that they had encountered the Weavers a few days earlier when they had gone up to view their property. At that time, the Torrences drove near the Weaver house and stopped to ask about some property markers. The Weaver dogs came to their car, followed by Sammy Weaver, who called to the house. The Torrences then saw Randy Weaver and "Dennis" looking down on them from a rock outcropping.[FN205] Each held a rifle or shotgun. Thereafter, the Torrences were invited into the Weaver cabin where Randy and Vicki Weaver explained their religious and political views.
Randy Weaver told the Torrences that the Aryans are the true chosen people of Yahweh and that the Jews are impersonators.[FN206] He claimed that a federal informant had introduced him to the Aryan Nations. Weaver also discussed the BATF arrest and that he was expecting federal agents to come to his home, but that he was not going to be arrested by anyone. According to Weaver, he and his family would shoot federal law enforcement officials who came on his property. "If they do take me, I'll take some with me," and that is "[w]hy we have the guns." Beverly Torrence observed that Weaver appeared "vehement in his belief that he would rather fight than go peaceable (sic)."[FN207]
[...]
The Marshals Service is required by statute to execute arrest warrants. Consequently, once a warrant was issued for Randy Weaver's arrest, the Marshals Service had no choice but to undertake efforts to apprehend Weaver. Faced with Weaver's repeated threats to violently resist arrest, the Marshals Service explored many alternative plans designed to capture Weaver, but to do so without harming Weaver, his family or the arresting officers. We believe that the Marshals Service acted properly and with due caution in pursuing this purpose. Moreover, we found no evidence that the Marshals Service was pressured by outside entities or was improperly motivated in its efforts. We find, however, that the court and the U.S. Attorney's Office did not appreciate the difficulties facing the Marshals Service, and made no effort to assist the Marshals Service in devising a peaceful solution to the problem.
[link|http://web3.foxinternet.net/djf/Ruby008.htm#R08I03|IV.D.2. Statement of Facts]:
Randy Weaver dictated this account of these events to his daughter, Sara, on August 26, 1992:
Approximately 11:30 Friday morning....the dogs started barking like they always do when strangers walk up the driveway. Randy, Kevin, and Sam ran out to the rock with their weapons. Randy was carrying a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun. Kevin was carrying a 30-06 bolt action rifle. Sam was carrying a 223 mini 14. [FN353] When they got to the rock, our yellow dog Striker was down at the pumphouse barking up into the woods. Randy, Kevin and Sam went down to investigate. Sam said he heard something, or someone running west, so they followed. Sam and Kevin followed Striker. Randy dropped down on the old logging road headed west.
I (Randy Weaver) didn't have any idea what they were chasing, but I was hoping it was a deer. [FN354]
Kevin Harris claimed that, from the intensity of the dog's reaction, he thought that there was "a large animal or a person" in the vicinity.[FN355] Vicki Weaver wrote in her journal on August 21, 1992:
Randy, Kevin and Sam go down past the pump house to see what's bothering the dog. He apparently made the servant of the New World Order retreat down Farnworth Road. They followed the dog part way down.[FN356]
Roderick told Cooper and Degan that a dog and a man with a rifle were running toward them and that they had to move out.[FN357] The OP team heard Roderick say, "Pull back!" and, "the dogs are on us."[FN358] Roderick took the lead as the marshals fled through the woods. The area was thickly forested, and the marshals made a great deal of noise as they ran.[FN359] As they fled down the mountain, the marshals stopped several times to determine whether they were being pursued and saw that they were.
Throughout the report there are an awful lot of allegations and reports of statements that Weaver made. And reports of informants.
If you believe the report, it doesn't sound as if the federal agents had it in for them. Especially the last bit makes it sound like the allegations that he wouldn't go without taking others with him were his true feelings.
I wasn't there, so I don't know what he said, what really happened and why, so don't take my comments as an apology for either side.
FWIW.
Cheers,
Scott.
