WPTZ: Officials: No Raid Planned On Tax Evaders, Supporter Detained
PLAINFIELD, N.H. -- State, local and federal authorities swarmed the small town of Plainfield on Thursday, fueling speculation that they had come to arrest a couple convicted of tax evasion, but officials said that was not the case.
Ed and Elaine Brown were convicted in January of hiding nearly $2 million in income and not paying taxes on it because they insisted that federal income taxes are invalid. In April, they skipped their sentencing hearings and have been holed up in their house since.
Neighbors spotted heavily armed police near the 110-acre property Thursday morning, but officials said that they were just there to serve a warrant on a dental office owned by the couple in Lebanon
U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier said that the fire trucks, SWAT tanks and bomb disposal unit that were sent to the Plainsfield property were there only to do surveillance of the area.
"We have no wish to have a violent encounter with them or in any way, shape or form have to hurt either one of them," Monier said.
For several hours, authorities closed off the road leading to and from the Brown property. After police left, Ed Brown donned a tricorner hat when speaking to a reporter. He said his court conviction means nothing to him because the person once known as Ed Brown is now deceased.
"I'm not Ed Brown," he said. "I am Edward, a living soul created of the Creator, body of the Lord."
Brown called Thursday's police activity "childish."
Officials said they never had any intention to arrest Ed and Elaine Brown. The armored vehicles were seen leaving the area sometime after one of Ed Brown's supporters spotted authorities while he was walking a dog.
"A gentleman was walking a dog," Monier said. "Unfortunately, it required U.S. Marshal Service personnel during that encounter to take him into custody."
Brown said he would not surrender himself and begin serving his 63-month sentence. In the past, he predicted that police will attempt to invade his property, and he hinted it could be violent. Thursday, he warned that they should be wary of any man backed into a corner.
"Do I look like I'm dangerous?" Ed Brown said. "But I could be. But I could be."
Heavily armed agents seized the dental office run by Elaine Brown in Lebanon. Authorities said the show of force there was precautionary.
http://www.wptz.com/news/13460557/detail.html
Ed and Elaine Brown were convicted in January of hiding nearly $2 million in income and not paying taxes on it because they insisted that federal income taxes are invalid. In April, they skipped their sentencing hearings and have been holed up in their house since.
Neighbors spotted heavily armed police near the 110-acre property Thursday morning, but officials said that they were just there to serve a warrant on a dental office owned by the couple in Lebanon
U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier said that the fire trucks, SWAT tanks and bomb disposal unit that were sent to the Plainsfield property were there only to do surveillance of the area.
"We have no wish to have a violent encounter with them or in any way, shape or form have to hurt either one of them," Monier said.
For several hours, authorities closed off the road leading to and from the Brown property. After police left, Ed Brown donned a tricorner hat when speaking to a reporter. He said his court conviction means nothing to him because the person once known as Ed Brown is now deceased.
"I'm not Ed Brown," he said. "I am Edward, a living soul created of the Creator, body of the Lord."
Brown called Thursday's police activity "childish."
Officials said they never had any intention to arrest Ed and Elaine Brown. The armored vehicles were seen leaving the area sometime after one of Ed Brown's supporters spotted authorities while he was walking a dog.
"A gentleman was walking a dog," Monier said. "Unfortunately, it required U.S. Marshal Service personnel during that encounter to take him into custody."
Brown said he would not surrender himself and begin serving his 63-month sentence. In the past, he predicted that police will attempt to invade his property, and he hinted it could be violent. Thursday, he warned that they should be wary of any man backed into a corner.
"Do I look like I'm dangerous?" Ed Brown said. "But I could be. But I could be."
Heavily armed agents seized the dental office run by Elaine Brown in Lebanon. Authorities said the show of force there was precautionary.
http://www.wptz.com/news/13460557/detail.html
posted by Alfons at
2:11 PM
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