Sheriff Joe: Armed militias beware or be shot

[noneedtoaggress]

hxxp:// www.policeone.com/news/6397362-Sheriff-Joe-Armed-militias-beware-or-be-shot/


By Brian Skoloff
Associated Press

PHOENIX — Tough-talking Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is warning civilians who embark on armed patrols in remote desert terrain that they could end up "seeing 30 rounds fired into them" by one of his deputies.

His unapologetically terse comments came Tuesday after a member of an Arizona Minuteman border-watch movement was arrested over the weekend for pointing a rifle at a Maricopa County sheriff's deputy he apparently mistook for a drug smuggler.

"If they continue this there could be some dead militia out there," Arpaio said.

Richard Malley, 49, was heavily armed with two others dressed in camouflage Saturday night along Interstate 8 near Gila Bend, a known drug-trafficking corridor in the desert about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, when he confronted the deputy who was on patrol conducting surveillance, authorities said.

According to court records, the deputy and his partner stopped their vehicle, then flashed their headlights and honked their horn, a common practice used by law enforcement to trick drug smugglers into thinking the car is there to transfer their narcotics load and lure them out of hiding.

The deputies then got out, also dressed in camouflage but clearly marked with sheriff's patches on their clothing, and began to track what appeared to be fresh footprints, authorities said.

That's when Malley emerged from the darkness with his rifle raised "yelling commands," according to the probable cause statement.

The deputy, illuminated by Malley's flashlight at this point, identified himself as law enforcement, pointing out the "word sheriff across his chest," and ordered Malley to drop his weapon.

"You aren't taking my weapons," replied Malley, who was armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a .45 caliber handgun and a knife, according to court records.

Another deputy eventually arrived and arrested Malley for aggravated assault. He was released on $10,000 bail and is set for a court appearance on Aug. 26. It wasn't clear if Malley had an attorney, and telephone numbers listed for him were disconnected.

Malley claimed "he had the right to point his rifle at the individual because he had reasonable suspicion to believe a crime was occurring," according to the probable cause statement. He identified himself as a "militia Minuteman."

Such Minuteman-type militias of armed civilians patrolling the deserts for illegal border crossers and smugglers grew to prominence in the early 2000s, but the organizations' numbers have since dwindled as they fractured into multiple splinter groups, such as crews like Malley's who were on patrol with just three armed men.

Arpaio, whose county doesn't run along the border but has seen an increase in drug and human trafficking, warned there will be "chaos if you're going to have private citizens dressed just like our deputies taking the law into their own hands."

"I have to commend my deputy for not killing this person, which easily could have happened," Arpaio said. "He's lucky he didn't see 30 rounds fired into him."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Andy Adame also expressed concern for the safety of both the militia members and Border Patrol agents.

Adame said the civilian groups could easily trigger remote sensors operated by Border Patrol to detect illegal crossers.

"And we respond to them in a manner where we expect to encounter illegal immigrants or drug traffickers," he said. "We can encounter them (militia members) out in the middle of the desert, which may result in disastrous personal and public safety consequences."

In short, he noted, someone could get shot and killed, either an agent or a civilian.

Glenn Spencer, president of American Border Patrol, a civilian group which operates from a ranch along the Mexican border in southern Arizona, won't condemn the actions of private armed militia organizations, but he also doesn't recommend it.

"It's a free country. They're not violating any law. They're not trespassing," said Spencer, whose group uses technology, including sensors and unmanned aircraft rather than boots on the ground to monitor the border.

"But I wouldn't do it, and I wouldn't encourage anyone to do it," Spencer added. "Going out there is dangerous."

[TaftFan]

Before someone comments without reading, no Sheriff Joe was not saying his deputies would shoot them.

edit-I mean if they are shot it is an accident, if they are mistaken for illegals

[Tod]

Adame said the civilian groups could easily trigger remote sensors operated by Border Patrol to detect illegal crossers.

Gee, maybe they need to check and see if they are working?

[pacelli]

Before someone comments without reading, no Sheriff Joe was not saying his deputies would shoot them.

And the media source out of New York didn't really provide the full quote... I don't want to make a judgment on this yet... could be a media-contrived non-event.

[Acala]

Sheriff Joe is a dick. But the guys out gunning for drug smugglers and illegals are dicks also - and give militias a bad name. Maybe it would be best for them to all shoot each other?

[noneedtoaggress]

Sheriff Joe is a dick. But the guys out gunning for drug smugglers and illegals are dicks also - and give militias a bad name. Maybe it would be best for them to all shoot each other?

Yeah, no one in this article is being very libertarian.

I think Unkle Joe is just mad cause he's got some competitors on his turf.

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

LOL.

I'd say more, but that's enough.

[tod evans]

Ya' got two armed groups of highwaymen fighting over who gets to rob the traveler...

This is logical or right why?

[LibertyEagle]

The almighty government isn't doing anything about the illegal invasion of our country, so I don't blame others for doing it for them. Ranchers have been shot and killed on their own property that is close to the border and others have had to leave their property altogether.

They aren't "travelers". They are knowingly breaking our laws.

[better-dead-than-fed]

Who says the sheriffs weren't smuggling drugs? Who besides the sheriff says it, I mean.

What is up with his reference to the number 30? Is firing 30 rounds part of some protocol?

[tod evans]

The almighty government isn't doing anything about the illegal invasion of our country, so I don't blame others for doing it for them. Ranchers have been shot and killed on their own property that is close to the border and others have had to leave their property altogether.

They aren't "travelers". They are knowingly breaking our laws.

I'm all for declaring open season on trespassers, including sheriff Joes deputies.

Az. could easily repeal the legislation that prohibits landowners from shooting unknown people on their property..

[TruckinMike]

Sheriff Joe is a dick. But the guys out gunning for drug smugglers and illegals are dicks also - and give militias a bad name. Maybe it would be best for them to all shoot each other?

The British thought these guys were dicks too...
http://www.nationalguard.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/images/standyourground.jpg

If the government is not going to stop the illegals then who will? The militia is all that we have thats *willing. As for the drugs dealers I'm guessing they are illegals too.

But the real point I'm making is WE are the militia, THEY (Leos) are not, and they certainly are not US. We should be promoting any and every militia at every opportunity.



* if you are an open borders libertarian you are putting the cart before the horse. Until we can educate the masses in freedom,NAP etc. (including halting welfare of all types), and securing our God given natural rights --> allowing illegal (socialist/fascist/marxist) aliens will only help in the destruction of our rights and freedoms. Tyranny of the majority and all;)...

[phill4paul]

Tough-talking militiaman Joe Blow is warning sheriff deputies who embark on armed patrols in remote desert terrain that they could end up "seeing 30 rounds fired into them" by one of his militiamen..

His unapologetically terse comments came Tuesday after a member of the sheriff department pointed a rifle at a militia member he apparently mistook for a drug smuggler.

"If they continue this there could be some dead sheriffs out there," Blow said.


Naw. You would never read THAT. Only the state is allowed to threaten without consequences.

[better-dead-than-fed]

As for the drugs dealers I'm guessing they are illegals too.

I know some. They cross illegally, deliver drugs, and then return to Mexico without collecting welfare or doing any other harm. This is if they are left alone.

The system rewards police who smuggle drugs, and I think it would be naive to assume the police are not doing that, to say the least. And it would be naive to assume the police are not ready to put 30 into anyone who gets in the way.

[AFPVet]

Well Joe, why don't you fucking communicate with the local militias—so this shit doesn't happen—instead of making threats. That's not helping things.

[WM_in_MO]

"If they continue this there could be some dead militia out there," Arpaio said.

And if YOU continue...

[Anti Federalist]

And if YOU continue...

/thread.

[Neil Desmond]

Then maybe he's totally incompetent & unfit for the job and ought to step down right now.

[Pericles]

Sheriff Joe is a dick. But the guys out gunning for drug smugglers and illegals are dicks also - and give militias a bad name. Maybe it would be best for them to all shoot each other?
Sometimes there are no good guys involved. I'd like to stick up for the militia guys, but you can't fix stupid.

[WM_in_MO]

Sometimes there are no good guys involved. I'd like to stick up for the militia guys, but you can't fix stupid.

At least the militia isnt swatting your home and shooting your dog.

[Pericles]

At least the militia isnt swatting your home and shooting your dog.

That is why my default setting is to be for them - default posture is defensive rather than offensive.

[pcosmar]

An old one.. worth the listen.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk7vhLxk9BE

[WM_in_MO]

That is why my default setting is to be for them - default posture is defensive rather than offensive.
YEs but in our free or minimal state theory wouldn't it be on the property owner to enforce his own borders? I think the militias enforcing borders is much more in line with that.

I don't agree with the drug busting though, but I can't guarantee I would be ok with it happening on my property either.

[libertyjam]

Fuck Sheriff Joe, I used to hunt quail out in those "deserts" in season when I lived there. I would be extremely pissed that I couldn't hunt quail there today because of a bunch of illegals and smugglers if I still lived there. And the last time I was there I was told that hunting where I used to would be problematic for those reasons.

"I have to commend my deputy for not killing this person, which easily could have happened," Arpaio said. "He's lucky he didn't see 30 rounds fired into him."

the deputies are equally lucky they didn't have 30 rounds pumped into them S. Joe, you fuck. And guess what, if they did you would still be wondering were they went.

[better-dead-than-fed]

I don't agree with the drug busting though, but I can't guarantee I would be ok with it happening on my property either.

Mexican drug importers would use highways to transport their products if they were allowed, instead of walking through the desert for five days.

[jkob]

Sheriff Joe is a POS but militia groups can't be out there looking for smugglers and illegals. I'm not even so much worried about sheriff's deputies or his posse, I'm more worried about regular people being confronted by these idiots.

[kcchiefs6465]

But then the DEA and CIA subsidiaries would have competition.

Norwin Meneses operated for well over a decade with impunity.

They want the prices to be artificially high. Black budget doesn't go as far as is wanted.

[WM_in_MO]

Mexican drug importers would use highways to transport their products if they were allowed, instead of walking through the desert for five days.
Isn't is amazing the problems we solve by simply eliminating a few laws?

Drug laws

Immigration laws

etc...


Sheriff Joe is a POS but militia groups can't be out there looking for smugglers and illegals. I'm not even so much worried about sheriff's deputies or his posse, I'm more worried about regular people being confronted by these idiots.

These "idiots" are regular people.

Try harder troll.

[Dr.3D]

Fuck Sheriff Joe, I used to hunt quail out in those "deserts" in season when I lived there. I would be extremely pissed that I couldn't hunt quail there today because of a bunch of illegals and smugglers if I still lived there. And the last time I was there I was told that hunting where I used to would be problematic for those reasons.

"I have to commend my deputy for not killing this person, which easily could have happened," Arpaio said. "He's lucky he didn't see 30 rounds fired into him."

the deputies are equally lucky they didn't have 30 rounds pumped into them S. Joe, you fuck. And guess what, if they did you would still be wondering were they went.

That's what I was thinking. I seriously doubt the sheriff's department wants to get into a battle with the militia, they may find themselves out gunned.

[Dr.3D]

Isn't is amazing the problems we solve by simply eliminating a few laws?

Drug laws

Immigration laws

etc...



These "idiots" are regular people.

Try harder troll.
Yeah, they need to get rid of enough laws so that the numbers of people in prison in the U.S. is the same per capita as in other countries.

[jkob]

These "idiots" are regular people.

Try harder troll.
How am I trolling? I live about 40 miles from Gila Bend and I don't want some weirdo shoving a gun in my face because they suspect I'm a drug smuggler or illegal immigrant, that goes for sheriff deputies AND militia.

[libertyjam]

Sheriff Joe is a POS but militia groups can't be out there looking for smugglers and illegals. I'm not even so much worried about sheriff's deputies or his posse, I'm more worried about regular people being confronted by these idiots.

There aren't enough lawmen in the entire state of AZ to keep the border area secure, let alone the whole rest of the state, so what should everyone else do, sit back and let themselves be run over? The Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge was completely closed to the public in 2006 due to this activity, I see now that it is back open.

Militias along the border have been well trained and well regulated in dealing with this for the past decade, and more than willing to work with law enforcement, who needs all the help they can get in the SW.

[catfeathers]

As for the drugs dealers I'm guessing they are illegals too.


Not all of them. I used to know a guy from NC or SC who used to be in "imports and exports" from Mexico, he spent some time in prison for it. Last I heard he was considering going back to his old job.

[noneedtoaggress]

The almighty government isn't doing anything about the illegal invasion of our country, so I don't blame others for doing it for them. Ranchers have been shot and killed on their own property that is close to the border and others have had to leave their property altogether.

They aren't "travelers". They are knowingly breaking our laws.

Your point boils down to the right for individuals to provide for the security of their own property rather than relying on a state monopoly, which I agree with.

That being said, depending on what an individual does, "they" may or may not be violating the natural rights of another individual by being in a place the state declares them illegal to be. "Our" state-authorized laws are a mess of perversions of natural law that infringe on individual rights and there is no moral obligation to follow them.

[Acala]

The British thought these guys were dicks too...
http://www.nationalguard.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/images/standyourground.jpg

If the government is not going to stop the illegals then who will? The militia is all that we have thats *willing. As for the drugs dealers I'm guessing they are illegals too.

But the real point I'm making is WE are the militia, THEY (Leos) are not, and they certainly are not US. We should be promoting any and every militia at every opportunity.



* if you are an open borders libertarian you are putting the cart before the horse. Until we can educate the masses in freedom,NAP etc. (including halting welfare of all types), and securing our God given natural rights --> allowing illegal (socialist/fascist/marxist) aliens will only help in the destruction of our rights and freedoms. Tyranny of the majority and all;)...

I live in southern Arizona and own property here. I deny anyone the authority to tell me who can and cannot enter my property - not Obama, not Arpaio, not these pseudo-militia douchebags. I deny the jurisdiction of "our nation" to obstruct peaceful human activity.

And just for the record, in order of LEAST welcome, here is a list of those who are not invited on my property:

1. Law enforcement officers, including Arpaio and his sheriffs
2. The military
3. The fucktards running around in the desert pretending to BE cops or military so they can get their rocks off terrorizing people. Comparing these people to the Minutemen is a grave insult against the heroes of 1776.
4. Drug dealers
5. Desperate illegal aliens on the run

[Kotin]

Joe is such a dumb fucking asshat..

[specsaregood]

According to court records, the deputy and his partner stopped their vehicle, then flashed their headlights and honked their horn, a common practice used by law enforcement to trick drug smugglers into thinking the car is there to transfer their narcotics load and lure them out of hiding.

If it is a common practice and just a trick; then I can't see it being very effective as no doubt the smugglers would have caught on by now. On the otherhand, if it was a couple of cops giving the "coast is clear" signal to smugglers....

[jkr]

cause, you know, if you could defend yourself you wouldnt need us (and our well paying monopoly on force)...leave the violence to the professionals.


HEY JOE, IF THE GUbbERMINT (including you) didi their JOB "citizens" wouldnt have to!

[Weston White]

I would tend to think the militia individuals were in the wrong for brandishing weapons on people doing nothing but stopping their car and then walking around on the side of the roadway.


‘warned there will be "chaos if you're going to have private citizens dressed just like our deputies taking the law into their own hands."’

1. Now would be the perfect time to stop and seriously ask yourself why your deputies feel the need to dress up like the military?

2. Why would chaos ensure if people started holding others accountable to public laws? Would that not instead serve to ensure prosperity, peace, and liberty?

3. This statement is a self-admission of how this sheriff truly views those he has sworn to protect and serve—the hell out of.

[LibertyEagle]

Isn't is amazing the problems we solve by simply eliminating a few laws?

Immigration laws

etc...



Uh huh, and if you get rid of the country altogether, no more problem there, either. :rolleyes:

[erowe1]

Yeah, no one in this article is being very libertarian.

I think Unkle Joe is just mad cause he's got some competitors on his turf.

Yep. If one of his deputies did the exact same thing to a civilian that this civilian did to this one, Joe would laugh at anyone who thought anything was wrong with that.

[kcchiefs6465]

Uh huh, and if you get rid of the country altogether, no more problem there, either. :rolleyes:
That's a little melodramatic, don't you think?

While currently open borders is unfeasible with the welfare state, it isn't a bad thing to work towards the goal of having open borders. People should be free to come and go and offer their services as they see fit. As long as it's voluntary, I don't see why you'd have a problem with it.