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Show without any county official representation whatsoever reeked of police-stat- e authoritarianism. Sheriff Lacy said he was following instructions. I reiterated again that we needed to lay the matter out on the table and look over all of the parameters. The public had not yet been involved. If he would agree to arrange a conference, we would disperse. He didn't agree to it. The grader operator climbed into his seat and started the engine. Sheriff Lacy again ordered us out of the way. I nervously took a deliberate defiant step that placed me directly in front of the machine. Dan was already there. Sheriff Lacy and the other deputies then moved in and firmly grabbed our arms. Sheriff Lacy pulled me away, as I demanded that he arrest me. Dan put up more resistance and fell to the ground. Three deputies held him, handcuffed him, shackled him, pulled him from the front of the grader, and arrested him. Very effectively done in a matter of minutes. I was not arrested, and I don't know why. Area Manager Kent Walter also looked hopelessly on and took no further action to stop the devastation and the activity. He had no law enforcement people there to back him up. But our group, individually acting as citizens, pled for justice. Dan Kent, however, in spite of his gallant efforts, became a victim instead. With the defenders out of the way, the equipment operator drove the machine out across the mesa following the jeep tracks - gouging out another damaging roadway in that beautiful and sacred land. After the giant machine had left. Sheriff Lacy told me then he hadn't been officially informed of the cease and desist order and the no trespass notice. I then hurriedly yelled for Kent Walter to come talk to the sheriff. I yelled a second time before he realized our urgency. On his arrival, I asked him to repeat the crux of the orders. As we talked further, we learned that It wasn't enough to change Sheriff Lacy's mind. Commissioner Redd had indeed received the official orders - by about 11 am that same day and he had time to relay the message to the sheriff by radio. Apparently Redd had no intention of relaying this vital information to him. Regrettably, the Sheriffs department was placed in the middle of this whole mess and used as pawns. The sheriff was directed to break the law in the name of the county. I asked Sheriff Lacy, as an elected official, why he didn't uphold the law in the name of the people, not the commission or the county attorney. These offices legally do not have direct authority over his independent position. He and his department were used for political law-breakin- g I asked for a rehabilitation of the bladed areas. They would not even consider it I asked that an apology be given to Dan Kent. Had federal law enforcement officers been on the scene, Dan surely would not have been arrested and no road constructed. Dan tried to help uphold the law, and now he was being punished for that very effort. Dan Kent's trial will certainly bring out many new facts the county is now withholding. Because of other judicial actions now being levied against the county on this matter, the trial will probably be delayed. For justice sake, I feel that all charges against him by the county should immediately be dropped. From it all, the question now arises. Who in county government is in charge? Who is responsible? Authority between county offices and departments must be determined. It is indeed scary that our police departments can be ordered to apprehend or intimidate innocent individuals and to desecrate our lands while no responsibility can be fixed. The Sheriffs department must hereinafter remain independent and not be ruled by commissioners or other elected officials. Many questions are surely to arise from this act of belligerence.. For San Juan County it will indeed be a costly action. How much will it cost and what will be the damages? One wonders just how many law suits must be filed before the county comes into compliance. The county is in a mess. Coupling this action with other belligerent actions we have total chaos. Our poor county can ill afford such actions. Our local government has been held ideology. It is just not hostage by various local leaders who are espousing radical right that our people suffer and our lands suffer because a few individuals have captured the county machinery to further their own personal and radical agenda. Q far-rig- ht I'm Mario. I'm an elf gain. Following the encounter, the sheriff and his deputies headed to the jail house in Monticello. Dan was with them, still shackled. We shortly followed. Arriving at the county jail, I talked to Judge Hazleton of possible charges or a citizen's arrest that I wanted to file. Land had been desecrated and I felt our civil rights and liberties had also been trampled upon. After talking with him I realized that there was much more to this and that time would soon be on our side. Justice would eventually prevail, I felt. At the jail house in Monticclb we took up a collection of $500 and bailed Dan out. Surely, this bail was excessive. It seemed a cruel and ludicrous act - his reward for his trying to see that federal law and federal directives were properly carried out. We drove back to Moab armed with many photos and new insights into the workings of the local county government. Larry Warren of Channel 2 interviewed Rick Bailey, our county administrator. Bailey replied on camera that the county bladed the roads to assure that the bladed areas would never be considered for wilderness designation. Developed roads would preclude wilderness. On October 21, 1 met with the county commission to present my grievance and to ask questions. When I had not received the information I had asked for, I accused the commission of squandering money on needless roads while the county is experiencing severe poverty. Ironically, just the week or so before, a group of Navajo Indians had asked for assistance funds to build a long needed access road in the reservation. They were turned down. The actions of the commission, I pointed out, were indeed a disrespect for this land that many people considered sacred. The land was a place the people could come for solitude. This area belonged to all our nation's citizens, not just to San Juan County residents. This the Commissioners Lewis and Redd seemed to resent. But this land, I told them, is just as sacred to many of us as the Temple Square is sacred to the Mormons. It would be an atrocity to blade a road through Temple Square. Then why would Commissioners Lewis and Redd feel it necessary to desecrate the beautiful lands of the canyon country that many citizens feel are just as sacred. Surely this is destruction merely for destruction's sake and a total disregard for others values. SHOP HERE FOR XMAS BMX Bikes & New & OPEN Accessories Used Bikes ALL WINTER Thanks Moab for supporting Chile Pepper this year. Happy Holidays I 4 SOUTH MAIN 259-290- 0 winter hours: Wed-Su- n: 4pm-Clos- e We'll be closed during the month of January. WATCH FOR OUR... Soups & Ravioli of the day. Daily specials and remember to book your Xmas party with us real soon. |