U.S. marshals explain why they grabbed Ammon Bundy's lawyer

According to an account written by Colin M. Fawcett of the U.S. Marshals Service, Mumford grew "increasingly agitated'' after learning that Bundy wouldn't be released from custody. "As Marshals moved forward to escort Bundy out of the courtroom, Mumford positioned his body so as to block the Marshals from taking Bundy into custody and began yelling in protest,'' Fawcett wrote. Deputy U.S. Marshal Erik Helsing instructed Mumford to "lower his voice and stand down,'' which Mumford didn't do, Fawcett wrote. Mumford became even more agitated, "flailing his arms and raising his voice even louder,'' so two other deputy marshals moved in to escort Mumford out of the courtroom, the statement said. Then, according to Fawcett, Mumford took a particular stance that in Fawcett's "experience as a police officer and a combat veteran'' signaled that the attorney was "preparing for a combative and physical altercation.'' Fawcett wrote that Mumford lowered his body, widened his stance and "brought his shoulders up toward his head.'' "These physical responses are pre-assault indicators, consistent with an individual preparing for a combative and physical altercation,'' he wrote. Deputy U.S. Marshal Erik Helsing instructed Mumford to "lower his voice and stand down,'' which Mumford didn't do, Fawcett wrote. Mumford became even more agitated, "flailing his arms and raising his voice even louder,'' so two other deputy marshals moved in to escort Mumford out of the courtroom, the statement said. Then, according to Fawcett, Mumford took a particular stance that in Fawcett's "experience as a police officer and a combat veteran'' signaled that the attorney was "preparing for a combative and physical altercation.'' Fawcett wrote that Mumford lowered his body, widened his stance and "brought his shoulders up toward his head.'' "These physical responses are pre-assault indicators, consistent with an individual preparing for a combative and physical altercation,'' he wrote. Two other deputies moved to grab Mumford's upper arm using a standard law enforcement grasp, but Mumford jerked his arm free. Mumford "then squared his body off'' with a deputy and "raised his clenched fists in what appeared to be a boxer's stance,'' Fawcett wrote. There's also no mention of the deputy marshals tackling Mumford, who is 5 feet six inches tall, according to his citation. Instead, the summary simply states that "a brief struggle ensued'' and that Mumford was taken into custody...more

Hey, all you buckaroos and buckarettes better be careful of what "stance" you assume around any federale.