Militia radio station aired sheriff's dispatches in search for Hutaree member

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit News

Last Updated: April 07. 2010 1:38PM
Militia radio station aired sheriff's dispatches in search for Hutaree member
Francis X. Donnelly and Paul Egan / The Detroit News


A sheriff's department radio communications were broadcast over an Internet militia-run radio station during a March 28 search for a member of a Christian militia group accused of plotting to kill police.

The FBI notified the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department about the monitoring on the morning after the federal agency raided the homes of Hutaree members in Washtenaw and Lenawee counties and Ohio and Indiana, the FBI said today.

At the time, the FBI was still searching for the last of nine people arrested during the raids. Joshua Stone, 21, was arrested the following night in Hillsdale.

The FBI had set up its command post at the Sheriff's Department but the department wasn't involved in the raids.

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100407/METRO/4070423/Militia-radio-aired-sheriff-s-dispatches-in-search-for-Hutaree-member

[Robb]

1. Interesting. I don't think that's illegal, exactly.

IIRC there was a civil case a while back about rebroadcasting police scanner traffic. I'll do some looking.

[Enrique]

2. but the militias are trying to distance themselves from the Hutaree

(lol, just writing their ridiculous name makes me laugh.)

This makes it look like they're sympathetic to them.

[paulsby]

3. it's legal.

we have special tactical channels that are not scannable (theoretically) but part of open govt. is that the general public can listen in to police scanners

[Robb]

4. I remember having to bring a scanner in to be programmed by the police chief's tech dude.

Back when I was dealing in barrels of ink. They wouldn't tell me the frequencies, but it was required I be allowed to listen as a member of the press.

[paulsby]

5. i'd be surprised

if non press members were not allowed the same access.

are you saying NONpress members would not be given the same programmed access?

[Robb]

6. No, just that there was an institutionalized process for press requests.

e.g. we just asked.

Later on I got faxed a list of frequencies, so I think it became further streamlined. :D

[paulsby]

7. right.

i used to work for an agency that had a "press list" of hot events and arrests, etc.

but it wasn't limited to press. it's all public info, so anybody had the same right of access.

[Supersedeas]

8. Why do RW'ers hate law enforcement so much?