RadioBanter - Since it is over, probably okay to post......

See the newspaper article at:
http://www.timesindicator.com/

"Ryan, KC8PMX" wrote:

Rather interesting side of a news event here in Michigan
Ryan, KC8PMX

-----Original Message-----
From: ***************
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 9:12 PM
To: James Wades
Subject: RACES Assistance with MSP Manhunt

15 July 2003

NEWS STORY............MICHIGAN RADIO AMATEURS ASSIST IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION AND MANHUNT.

On July 6, a Michigan radio amateur by the name of Scott Woodring (KC8JNG)
shot and killed a Michigan State Police Officer during a routine arrest on
a
warrant for solicitation of a minor, resulting in a tense standoff with law
enforcement. Mr. Woodring was a member of the Christian Identity movement,
an organization that promotes racist and antisemetic views along with an
anti-government agenda.

On Monday, July 7, after a standoff that had continued from the previous
day, Mr. Woodring escaped during a law enforcement shift change, resulting
in a nearly week-long manhunt for the suspect throughout Western Michigan.

Shortly after the escape of Mr. Woodring, James Wades (WB8SIW), the
Michigan
Section Emergency Coordinator / State RACES Officer requested that the
Newaygo County Emergency Coordinator establish an intercept operation in
the
area of Fremont to identify any possible transmissions from the suspect.
This request was based on the fact that Mr. Woodring had utilized Amateur
Radio frequencies and equipment to communicate with fellow members of the
Christian Identity movement. Mr. Woodring was also known to have recruited
a number of like-minded individuals into the Amateur Radio Service and may
have purchased two-meter FM transceivers for use by fellow members of his
organization.

Operators were asked to monitor seldom used frequencies both within and
adjacent to the VHF Amateur Radio allocations. An additional announcement
was broadcast to Emergency Coordinators and selected RACES personnel
throughout Michigan requesting information on any transmission heard from
Mr. Woodring.

On Friday, July 11 at 5:18 PM, Mr. Bill Hubbard (WD8MKG) of Holton,
Michigan
reported an intercept of communications between Mr. Woodring and another
radio amateur located in Fremont, Michigan. This was promptly reported to
the SEC shortly thereafter. This information was transmitted verbally to
Michigan State Police Operations Desk at 5:39 PM. A follow-up facsimile
was
transmitted to MSP Operations from the West Branch MSP Post at
approximately
6:20 PM.

MSP Investigators subsequently requested assistance from the Department of
Defense and Federal Communications Commission in order to establish radio
direction finding capabilities. When help was not forthcoming, a call was
placed to the SEC requesting these capabilities through the Amateur Radio
Service.

A radio direction finding team was dispatched from Kent County RACES,
arriving at the MSP command post shortly thereafter. This team was placed
under the supervision of the District 6 Emergency Coordinator, Mr. Tom
Vandermel (KB8VEE). Subsequent assistance was obtained from RACES members
in Ottawa and Muskegon Counties.

In addition to those resources in the immediate area, a team from Kalamazoo
County RACES was placed on standby along with a Civil Air Patrol team from
the Mt. Clemens area. These later teams were not utilized due to the
distances involved and the fact that adequate staff was available in nearby
Counties.

The radio direction finding activities continued until approximately 5 AM
on
Sunday, July 13 when Mr. Woodring was located based on a tip from a local
resident. He was subsequently shot to death when he leveled an assault
rifle at officers and refused to comply with directives.

RACES members provided 494 staff-hours to the operation, most of which were
contributed during the 36-hour period when radio direction finding
activites
were being conducted. Michigan State Police officials expressed genuine
appreciation for the efforts of the Amateur Radio teams. Considerable
positive feedback has been received from a variety of senior officers who
now have an "expanded" view of Amateur Radio capabilities.

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