NEWS

Arizona militia figure Ritzheimer knew he faced arrest

Dennis Wagner
The Republic | azcentral.com
Jon Ritzheimer of Peoria is one of the militia members who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters near Burns, Ore. The former Marine returned to the Valley recently from Oregon and was arrested Tuesday night in Peoria.
  • Arizona militia figure Jon Ritzheimer knew he faced arrest Tuesday in leaving an Oregon occupation
  • The 32-year-old returned to his home in Peoria to see family before turning himself in to the FBI
  • The charge: Conspiracy to impede federal officers through use of force, intimidation and threats

Arizona militia figure Jon Ritzheimer, who leaped into the public spotlight by staging anti-Muslim rallies last year before taking part in so-called "patriot" demonstrations, knew he faced arrest Tuesday and left the Oregon occupation camp hours before an FBI crackdown.

The 32-year-old Peoria resident, who had been a leader during the 25-day standoff with federal agents at Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, returned to Arizona a short time before authorities used traffic stops to arrest seven of the militia members. One of the group's leaders, 55-year-old rancher Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, was killed during the incident.

Finicum and Ritzheimer were among four Arizonans who occupied the federal facility. Ammon Bundy, the group's nominal leader, is a former resident of Laveen who was arrested Tuesday. Blaine Cooper of Humboldt is not in custody.

In a Facebook post Tuesday evening, Ritzheimer asked for donations to support his family and his legal defense. "I have come home to visit my family," he wrote. "The Feds know I am here and are asking me to turn myself in. Please help my family ... I just want the country to live by the Constitution, and I just want the government to abide by it."

In a video posted later, Ritzheimer is shown telling his two daughters he had to go away again, then comforting them as they cried. "Hey, it's OK," he says in the film. "I love you guys. ... I'll be back as soon as I can."

Ritzheimer turned himself in to the FBI in Peoria shortly later, at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. According to an FBI news release, he is charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers through the use of force, intimidation and threats. He faced an initial appearance at the U.S. District Courtin Phoenix today.

Ritzheimer is a motorcycle mechanic and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who told CNN he served in Iraq. He has described himself as a "three-percenter," referring to the purportedly small number of colonists who fought British rule during the Revolutionary War.

Ritzheimer has no known criminal record. In the months leading up to the Oregon event, he orchestrated a number of publicity stunts, mostly to vent about Muslim immigrants and alleged constitutional violations by the federal government.

What's going on at the Oregon wildlife refuge after fatal shooting, arrest

Last May, Ritzheimer organized a "Draw Mohammed" contest with an armed protest outside a Phoenix mosque. He also wrote an open letter last year threatening to arrest President Barack Obama and lawmakers for treason because of a nuclear deal with Iran.

In November, he and an associate drove part way across the country while posting profane videos about plans to visit Islamberg, N.Y., a community of African-American Muslims. Ritzheimer was shown flipping the bird, brandishing a pistol and ranting against Muslims and Obama. He said he was not fearful because "they do not come and attack hard targets." Then, working the gun's action, he added, "Guess what: We're f---ing ready for 'em. Bring it on, you Muslim (expletives)."

The FBI reportedly issued a national bulletin related to that trip, but Ritzheimer never showed up in Islamberg.

Ritzheimer also has sought to capitalize financially on the political notoriety.

He launched a business, Rogue Infidel LLC, to sell anti-Muslim shirts and bumper stickers. He also created a GoFundMe account online and told journalists he was trying to raise $10 million to protect his family from death threats. He announced at the time that he was selling his home and his family was going into hiding. But he revised that plan in a vow posted on Facebook: "I've decided if I die it will be as a free man, and not as a coward."