From the Radio Free Michigan archives ftp://141.209.3.26/pub/patriot If you have any other files you'd like to contribute, e-mail them to bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu. ------------------------------------------------ From the December 5, 1994 issue of The Spotlight (Subs 1-202- 546- 5621, 300 Independence Ave SE, Washington DC 20003) DETROIT TURNED INTO WAR ZONE BY LAWLESS, LAWMEN When both lawmen and the lawless carry automatic weapons and dress in "stealth" outfits, you can't tell the good guys without a program. Exclusive to The Spotlight by Mike Blair The city of Detroit has become a virtual "war zone," as described by one terrified local resident, with federal and local multi- jurisdictional task forces on one side and vicious street gangs on the other. Both groups roam the streets dressed in black ninja-style suits and their faces covered with black ski-type masks to conceal their identities. Members of street gangs have taken their cues from federal and local police raiding parties dressed in the black gear and have been dressing similarly to break into and rob Detroit homes in the middle of the night. This apparently culminated in a shoot-out between one gang and about 100 black-clad agents of a multi-jurisdictional task force on November 11 in the Cass Corridor section on Detroit's east side. "It sounded like a war going on," one local resident who lives at Pasadena and Homus streets, told the _Detroit News and Free Press_. "I thought I was in _Lethal Weapons_," (a violent cops-versus-bad guys "shoot 'em-up movie starring actors Mel Gibson and Danny Glover). When it was over, one gang member lay dead in the streets and three others were reported injured in what the Detroit newspaper described as "a blazing gunfight that terrorized two neighborhoods." Fifteen supposed gang members were arrested. The SPOTLIGHT has obtained a statement from a witness at the site, who found himself caught up in the November 11 shootout. He said the multi-jurisdictional task force was "comprised of FBI, BATF (the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), IRS and other federal agencies' personnel, along with state and local police representatives. Who's Who He said they all "used a standard uniform--matte black jumpsuits and black ski masks, black body armor and black jump boots. It was impossible to distinguish males from females. Both were present. No one wore any type of identifying markings, not even the word 'Police." They looked like black clad terrorists. What did make them stand out were their weapons: H & K submachine guns and very short 10-to 13-inch shotguns. "Some of these troops were asked to identify themselves to medical personnel following a fatal shooting of a criminal by their members. They refused to identify themselves or their agencies." According to the Detroit newspaper "bullets hit parked cars and homes but no residents were injured." In one instance, a source told The SPOTLIGHT, the black-clad agents entered a station house where ambulances were housed and ordered a supervisor to turn an ambulance over to them. When the supervisor refused, stating that he could not release the vehicle to them without proper authorization and without them identifying themselves or what agencies they represented, which they refused to do, a shouting match ensued. The supervisor was reportedly threatened with arrest for attempting to delay the task force until he could check with a superior. The ambulance was turned over to the task force , which used it as a vehicle to transport agents and for surveillance. It was wrecked before the night was over. Also taken in similar manner by the agents were a Department of Public Works step van and a lighting and utilities truck. Wrecked in Chase "The only reason they even admitted using the ambulance was because they wrecked it during a chase," a witness stated. "It's federal business," those responsible for the vehicles were told by the masked agents. "You'll get this truck back when we are done with it." A witness at the scene said that one emergency medial technician (EMT), who was later called to treat the injured, was in the process of working on one man shot down in the street when he found someone taping him on the side of his head with a flashlight. The EMT turned to find the flashlight was attached to a shotgun, which was pointed at his head. He was ordered to get out of the way by the black-clad agent who apparently wanted to examine the wounded man. A witness to the shoot-out told The SPOTLIGHT that he wanted to advise residents of the city to "call your legislators immediately. Tell them what is going on. Insist that these troops be required to identify themselves to insure accountability." "An officer who upholds the constitutional rights of citizens has no need to hide his or her identity," the irate witness stated. JANET RENO READIES REGIONAL FORCES IN AMERICA Regional, multi-jurisdictional task forces, under federal control, are being established throughout the country. Exclusive to The Spotlight by Mike Blair The U.S. Justice Department is in the process of establishing Rural Crime and Drug Task Forces within each federal judicial district of the nation, as provided for in the 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill, which has been signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Under the new law, Attorney General Janet Reno has the authority to establish the task forces in each judicial district and to deputize local law enforcement officers as federal marshals. The SPOTLIGHT has learned that various federal agencies, which were designated by the law to be part of the task forces, are in the process of being trained and organized for their new duties. As an example, The SPOTLIGHT has learned that officers of the U.S. Park Service are to begin receiving training in the use of the military M-16 assault rifle, which they then will be required to carry in their vehicles. According to SPOTLIGHT sources the training is to be undertaken at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Semi-Automatics Sources said the rifles to be provided to the Park Service will have their selective fire mechanisms removed, which will make them capable of firing only semi-automatically. However, this semi-automatic version of the M-16 is one of the so- called "assault rifles" that was banned from civilian sale and ownership in a provision of the crime bill. In addition, The SPOTLIGHT has also learned that members of the enforcement division of the U.S. Forest Service are no longer under the jurisdiction of the supervisory personnel of the districts they serve. Now they receive their orders directly from the Washington or regional offices of the service. Further, The SPOTLIGHT has received a copy of a Forest Service requisition submitted to a local ammunition supplier in Montana for 300 boxes of Federal Premium Hydra-Shok .45 caliber pistol ammunition for the rangers' sidearms. This ammunition features a cartridge with a bullet designed for its expanding, destructive power that has been highly criticized by anti-gun forces. The requisition, which was for the approximately 30 Forest Service officers who serve the Kootenai National Forest at Libby Montana, also includes 240 boxes of regular Winchester ball or jacketed .45 caliber ammunition and 80 boxes of Federal 12 gauge shotgun 00 buckshot cartridges. Under the crime bill, the membership of task forces will include state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Customs Service, United States Marshals Service, U.S. Park Police, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management "and other Federal law enforcement agencies as the Attorney General may direct." The law gives the task forces, including the federal officers, jurisdiction to act on non-federal land. The task forces, according to the new law, will be financed largely through "Assets seized as a result of *investigations* [SPOTLIGHT emphasis] initiated by a Rural Drug Enforcement Task Force . . . " In other words, the subject of an investigation will be in danger of having his assets confiscated and liquidated by a task force, regardless of the fact that he has not only not been convicted of any crime but has not even been arrested or charged. ------------------------------------------------ (This file was found elsewhere on the Internet and uploaded to the Radio Free Michigan archives by the archive maintainer. All files are ZIP archives for fast download. E-mail bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu) Other sites are invited to mirror these files, with attribution to RFM.