Rancher’s son describes arrest in protest of federal cattle roundup

A son of embattled Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy spoke to the media Monday about his arrest the day before in the ongoing federal roundup of his father’s so-called “trespass cattle” northeast of Las Vegas. Bureau of Land Management officers arrested Dave Bundy, 37, Sunday along state Route 170 near Mesquite. “They got on their loudspeaker and said that everyone needed to leave,” the younger Bundy said in an impromptu press conference Monday with his father outside a 7-Eleven convenience store along North Las Vegas Boulevard. “I stood there and continued to express my First Amendment right to protest and they approached me and said that if I didn’t leave, they’d arrest me.” Dave Bundy said he was taking photographs and protesting peacefully at the time. Natalie Collins, a spokeswoman for the Nevada U.S. Attorney’s office, said Bundy was released from custody and given a misdemeanor citation for “refusing to disperse and resisting issuance of a citation/arrest.” Earlier, BLM spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon said someone had been taken into custody to “protect public safety and maintain the peace,” but she declined to identify the person. “The Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service support the public’s right to express opinions peacefully and lawfully. However, if an individual threatens, intimidates or assaults another individual or impedes the impoundment, they may be arrested in accordance with local, state or Federal laws,” Cannon said in a written statement. Cliven Bundy, standing next to his son, viewed Dave Bundy’s arrest differently. “What’s happening is they had stole cattle from me and now they have taken their prisoner,” the father said. “Davy is a political prisoner. That’s what you want to call him — he’s a political prisoner.” Earlier Monday, more than 100 people gathered on private property in northeast Clark County after Cliven Bundy sent out an ominous announcement, promising a war and inviting the press to come cover it. So far, though, it’s been more rally than war. The group has made posters, heard speakers and plans to raise a huge banner near the Riverside bridge crossing the Virgin River. Their messages include that Bundy is being targeted, the federal government is overstepping its authority and trampling freedom. “They have cattle and now they have one of my boys,” said an email sent from Bundy’s address just after 9 p.m. Sunday. “Range War begins tomorrow at Bundy ranch at 9:30 a.m.” Asked what that reference to a war entailed, the elder Bundy said the planned protest is part of that.  “We’re going to be stirred up a little more,” he said.
Dave Bundy said he was mistreated during his arrest, which came right after he told BLM officers he was exercising his First Amendment rights. “Without any further questions, two rangers surrounded and a third one approached me and they all jumped me, pulling different directions and then a couple other guys jumped in and they took me to the ground,” Bundy said, showing a Review-Journal reporter his scratched face and swollen, scratched hands. “… One ranger had had his knee on my spine and the other one was on my head with his knee on the side of my head and his other knee on the back of my neck.” In a conference call with reporters, federal officials, when asked about the allegations of law enforcement roughing up Bundy, pointed to the charges he faces under the citation. Bundy maintains his arrest was improper because he was along the side of a state highway in a state right-of-way. But BLM officials said he was in an area their agency had closed to the public...more

Then there is the mickey mouse Sheriff, who is either too ignorant or too chicken to do his job.


Cliven Bundy was in Las Vegas early Monday to meet with Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie, although it had nothing to do with his son’s arrest. Gillespie said their meeting was arranged on Saturday. Bundy wanted contact information for Metro supervisors in his area, Gillespie said, and the sheriff provided him the information. But Gillespie reiterated that his agency isn’t involved in the roundup. “This is strictly a federal operation,” he said.