OREGON STANDOFF FBI AGENT TRIAL:  THE STORY BEHIND THE FBI'S VIOLENCE KEEPS COMING OUT

"Not to my knowledge.  I don't recall"

FBI Hostage Rescue Team agent Mike Ferrari explains when asked about the ammo magazine of his accused Agent W. Joseph Astarita claimed to have picked up at the scene

He was only known to us in the past by his initials, "MF", but today Michael Ferrari an FBI Hostage Rescue Team agent took the stand in the trial HRT member  W. Joseph Astarita, for lying about firing shots along US Route 395 in Harney County, Oregon on January 26, 2016.

Ferrari said there was no option of  assaulting vehicles but that the roadblock he was part of was designed to catch any vehicles that got away from being stopped.

Ferrari said it was hoped that FBI informant Mark McConnell would be driving the lead vehicle but it turned out the lead vehicle was the one driven by LaVoy Finicum.

He claimed marked vehicles were stopping the vehicles carrying the Oregon Standoff protestors, but LaVoy Finicum apparently saw no markings as he had to ask the armed men targeting him and his passengers with their laser lights who they were before he opted to speed away saying he was going to meet Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer.

Ferrari testified that he has nearly 18 years experience with the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and was asked by the prosecution if HRT agents ever miss their shots and his answer was "Yes".   Lead defense lawyer Rob Cary claimed in his opening statement that if Astarita had fired the two shots he wouldn't have missed.

Agent Ferrari gave his view of what happened as Finicum's truck swerved to avoid the roadblock and got stuck in the snow.   He talked about hearing shots fired and claimed he saw Finicum reach once for his pocket and suspected there was gun there.

Maxine Bernstein of  "Oregon Live" reported apparently from Ferrari's testimony that Oregon State Police trooper Joey Pollard, previously known as "Trooper 3", was in his line of fire preventing him from taking shots at LaVoy Finicum.

Another aspect of the operation mentioned were the rubber bullets and tear gas fired at the truck after Finicum was killed, with Agent Ferrari expressing the suspicion that armed and dangerous people were inside.    They were all unarmed.  This is more of the mythology about "armed militia" and "militants" etc. etc.

Some very interesting questioning figured on what the group of five agents did after the shooting when they were shown on the drone video picking stuff up off the ground.   The prosecution believes it was about a search for shell casings but Ferrari spoke of a security check of the area for any missing items.  He denied participating in any cover up when asked by the defense (Attorney Cary).

He also spoke about Astarita mentioning picking up an ammo magazine of his from the ground under questioning, but then said he didn't recall getting the ammo magazine back from Astarita.

Agent Ferrari also said that later Astarita told him some rounds fell out of the magazine and he put them back in.

A prosecution expert witness Frank Piazza and the FBI agent who operated the drone camera that took pictures of the scene from a high altitude also testified.

LaVoy Finicum's widow, Jeanette, was also in court to continue to witness the trial along with others who support her and her quest for "Justice for LaVoy".   There are others outside the courthouse in support as well.

She is seeing the whole story of LaVoy's killing being played out including video clips every day at this trial.

Link below.....

Maxine Bernstein July 26, 2018 Story

(UPDATED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT)