Trucks Positioned Near Freemen Ranch After Talks Break Down

After efforts to arrange a “freemen” surrender fell apart, three tarp-covered tractor-trailers under police escort moved late Wednesday to a location near the ranch where the anti-government extremists are holed up.

Three smaller trucks were also in the convoy. The FBI refused to comment on the trucks.

One of the trucks bore a sign from the McCone Electric Co-op in Circle, east of Jordan, but no one at the utility could be reached for comment.

Talks with the freemen broke down partly because a group leader broke a promise to let FBI negotiators talk to everyone at the freemen’s ranch, a mediator said Wednesday.

Colorado legislator Charles Duke, who had arranged the first face-to-face meetings between the anti-government freemen and FBI in the 59-day standoff, left Montana on Wednesday after talks came to an abrupt end the day before.

“Bringing in more mediation at this point--I don’t see what that would accomplish,” a discouraged Duke said before he boarded his plane here.

He later told reporters in Denver that the freemen wanted President Clinton to step into the situation and declare a constitutional emergency.

“I’m sure the president of the United States has more important things to worry about than a few criminals hanging out,” he said.

Local residents fed up with the stalemate began signing a petition that expresses support for law enforcement and says “reasonable force” may be necessary.

The petitions have been placed at some businesses in Jordan, 30 miles southeast of where the freemen--some wanted on criminal charges--have taken refuge under the watch of FBI agents.