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PECOS, February 24, 1997 - Reporters calling at all hours of the night
are the biggest problem Jeff Davis County Sheriff Steve Bailey has
encountered with the Rick McLaren - Republic of Texas saga.
Bailey said this morning he has not yet received a warrant for McLaren's
arrest, but when he does, he will serve it - "like I have done all my
career."
McLaren failed to appear in court Friday for a pre-trial hearing on a
burglary charge. Bailey said the clerks's office has yet to issue a
warrant.
"I am sure they will. They may be dealing with the bond forfeiture or
something. I may get it today or tomorrow," he said.
Meantime, McLaren has been the center of a media circus, and he claims
Republic of Texas defense forces have been alerted and will converge on
Fort Davis if anyone tries to arrest him.
That's not so, said Republic President Archie Lowe and Secretary of
Defense Roger Erickson.
Lowe said in a memo dated Feb. 22 (Saturday) at 9:35 p.m., that
information coming from the "Embassy" at Fort Davis is erroneous.
"There is no siege at this time; however, we will continue to keep you
informed. False information went out through one `White Eagle Otto,' who
is not an officer of the Republic of Texas," Lowe said.
"Disregard any information concerning Texas Defense Forces alerts unless
received directly from the Secretary of Defense, Roger Erickson, or from
my office, which constitutes the proper chain of command in emergency
situations or for the issuance of alerts," he said in the memo posted on
the Internet.
Lowe said that any defense forces alerts and pertinent information will
be posted on the site at http://www.texas.by.net.
Bailey said that the sheriff's office is "just going on with our normal
life" this morning.
"We just got through catching six wets and are dealing with the Border
Patrol," he said.
He noted that McLaren makes a lot of statements that don't make sense.
"Last week, we worked a driver's license check, just me and one deputy,
three miles outside of town, and he put it out that there were hundreds
of deputies and Department of Public Safety troopers with machine guns
swarming the embassy," Bailey said. "This is ridiculous. But that's him."
Erickson said in a memo to "All Defense Force Personnel" that he has
been preoccupied coaching his wife on the delivery of their baby boy,
but he had been in contact with Ambassador McLaren and Major Leonard.
"I have read the embassy press release," he said. "Major Leonard was
instructed to assess the situation and make a judgment as to the
validity of possible danger to Republic of Texas Citizens. If he
believed an alert was warranted, he was in full authority as commander
of District One to issue a District One alert.
"This would not affect any other district. He was to follow the
procedures in the issuing of said alert. The alert is to be signed,
posted for all in the designated area to see, and the Secretary of
Defense and the President are to be notified before hand if at all
possible. I have not received notification of an alert by Major Leonard
at the issuing of this memo (Friday).
"Contrary to the `Official Embassy Press Release,' I have not placed any
units of any kind of an alert, pending or not," Erickson said. "Unless
you see a signature and receive confirmation, do not act or draw any
conclusions. All information is to be questioned so as to make the best
choice. Lack of information or misinformation could cost needless loss
of lives.
"If there has been any contact internationally in regards to the
situation at Fort Davis or pending alerts, it has been without
authorization," he said.
PECOS, February 24, 1997 - A Kent woman is in guarded condition at an El
Paso hospital after her vehicle was struck by a train Saturday afternoon.
Guadalupe Baeza Marta, 46, who was driving a 1989 Fort Escort, was
northbound on Farm to Market Road 2424 about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
She attempted to cross a marked railroad crossing when she was struck
by a train. The intersection is located about 1-10 of a mile mile north
of U.S. Interstate 10, according to the Texas Department of Public
Safety report.
The road crosses the railroad track just north of the mile marker 177
(Kent) exit on I-10.
Investigating trooper was Timothy Collie of the Van Horn DPS office.
Culberson County Sheriff Glenn Humphries said the crossing is marked
with red lights and a sign.
The Union Pacific locomotive was driven by Henry Burnadette of El Paso.
Marta suffered internal injuries and was initially taken to Culberson
County Hospital from where she was airlifted to Thomasson Hospital in El
Paso.
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