Materials related to November 14, 1975 shootout between American Indian Movement members and Oregon State Police
| Tracking # |
PR82017 |
| Submitted | Feb. 20, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Meg Showalter
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Oregon Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
All materials (including, but not limited to: correspondence, reports, arrest records, notes, documents, audio/video tapes) related to the shootout between the Oregon State Police and members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) on November 14, 1975 outside of Ontario, Oregon as well as any materials from the ensuing arrests.
For background- By November of 1975, AIM leaders Dennis Banks and Leonard Peltier were both federal fugitives. Banks had failed to appear for his August sentencing in Custer County, South Dakota on riot-related charges, and Peltier was wanted in connection with the murder of a police officer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On the night of November 14, Oregon State trooper Ken Griffiths noticed a camper van that matched an FBI description of the fugitive's vehicle driving in a convoy with a Plymouth station wagon on Highway I-80 near the Idaho border outside of Ontario. When Griffith pulled the vehicles over, the occupants began to shoot at him. He called for aid, and two occupants believed to be Banks and Peltier fled into a nearby field. Eventually, Oregon State Police took Darlene Nichols (also known as Kamook or Ka-Mook Nichols), Naguset Eask, Russ James Redner, Anna Mae Aquash, and Kenneth Loud Hawk (also spelled Loudhawk) into custody. Law enforcement officials found over 350 pounds of dynamite in the car, along rifles, pistols, and various bomb components. Law enforcement also found a firearm that belonged to Jack Coler, an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who was killed in a June 26, 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation-a crime that Leonard Peltier was ultimately convicted of.
Please see the attached contemporary news articles on the shootout and manhunt for more information on the case.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days.
Sincerely,
Meg Showalter
From: Oregon State Police
An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.
From: Oregon State Police
Please find our attached fee estimate. We are only able to accept check or money order.
~Holly
[Holly B Signature][cid:image007.jpg@01DA73A5.04A94090]
Holly Bolton, Legal Compliance Specialist
Central Records Section, Oregon State Police
3565 Trelstad Ave SE, Salem OR 97317-9614
Phone: (971) 718-2050
To provide premier public safety services
*****CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE*****
This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee or it appears from the context or otherwise that you have received this e-mail in error, please advise me immediately by reply e-mail, keep the contents confidential, and immediately delete the message and any attachments from your system.
From: Meg Showalter
Ms. Bolton,
Thank you so much for your reply! Before I pay for the documents, I wanted to ask if they include any audiovisual material (film footage, photographs, audio tapes, etc.). Since filing the request, I have come across a number of police documents that will serve my needs. Unless the Oregon State Police materials include audiovisual material, I won't be needing the documents after all!
All best,
Meg Showalter
From: Oregon State Police
Hi Meg,
We have only documents responsive to your request, and not any av materials.
~Holly
[Holly B Signature][cid:image006.jpg@01DA7B92.53AE8980]
Holly Bolton, Legal Compliance Specialist
Central Records Section, Oregon State Police
3565 Trelstad Ave SE, Salem OR 97317-9614
Phone: (971) 718-2050
To provide premier public safety services
*****CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE*****
This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee or it appears from the context or otherwise that you have received this e-mail in error, please advise me immediately by reply e-mail, keep the contents confidential, and immediately delete the message and any attachments from your system.
From: Meg Showalter
I won't be needing the documents, then. Thanks so much for your help!
Sincerely,
Meg Showalter
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