[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1355 - August 1 2003

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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1355  - August 1 2003

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A NOTE TO THOSE WHO ONLY "READ" AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE(tm)

For those of you who only know of the Amateur Radio Newsline (tm) as a 
text newsletter we would like to invite you to listen to the audio 
version.  This Amateur Radio Newsline (tm) script is actually written 
for the "spoken word."  It is recorded each by professional 
broadcasters and is available for private listening or rebroadcast over 
your repeater.  Two methods of delivery are available: FTP MP3 or dial-
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for a list of telephone numbers (you have to pay your own long distance 
charges) and links to our voice newscast.  On site free FTP Downloads 
are available at our site by clicking on the newscast number at the top 
of the page.

de
The Newsline Production Team

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The following is a Q-S-T.  Amateur Radio helps solve a murder by 
tracking down one of its own.  Get to know about the ham radio heroes 
involved in the hunt for a cop killer on Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1355 coming your way right now.

 
**

ENFORCEMENT OF A DIFFERENT KIND:  AMATEUR RADIO HELPS HUNT HAM WHO 
KILLED MICHIGAN COP

Hams in Michigan were called on to help track down a cop killer after 
what should have been a routine arrest became a grusome homicide scene.  
It happened on July 6th.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, 
is here with the rest of the story:

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Never in Michigan's ham radio history has there been a case like Scott 
Woodring's. It began July 6th. That's when Woodring, KC8JNG, a member 
of the Christian Identity movement and described as a survivalist, shot 
and killed a Michigan state police officer. It happened while Woodring 
was being arrested for solicitation of a minor. 

A stand-off ensues and lasts nearly a day. During a law enforcement 
shift change, Woodring manages to escape, triggering an extensive 
manhunt throughout western lower Michigan. That's when ham radio 
operators became involved, since it was suspected that Woodring had 
been using amateur radio equipment to communicate with other members of 
his group. 

James Wades, WB8SIW, is Michigan's RACES Officer and Section Emergency 
Coordinator: 

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Wades: "I directed the EC for Newago Co. to establish an intercept 
peratio in the area and monitor seldom used frequencies in and about he 
VHF 2 meter band.  And, additionally, we sent out a broadcast announcement 
to selected areas to selected area RACES members throughout Michigan, 
essentially asking them to listen for conversations between Mr. Wodring 
and whomever else he might speak with."

--

That paid off. A ham in Holton, Michigan reported monitoring Woodring 
and another operator talking on the air. The intercept was reported to 
state police they then asked government agencies including the FCC to 
provide direction finding assistance to find Woodring. But it was a 
Friday night and police couldn't get any response from the federal 
agencies. So Wades says  investigators turned to radio amateurs for 
help: 

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Wades:  "We deployed amateur radio teams from several counties in the 
area, and had pretty much a continuous radio direction finding 
occurring throughout the weekend, with teams from from Kent, Ottawa and 
Musquogen Counties.  We also had teams on standby in Kalamazoo County 
as well as the Civil Air Patrol team - which weren't utilized, but it 
was reassuring to know  that they were there"

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Hams and the police knew the general area where Woodring was believed 
to be hiding. Wades says it was an eyewitness who ultimately led to 
Woodring being found: 

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Wades: "Mr. Woodring was discovered through a tip from a citizen who 
saw him essentially taking shelter in a non working vehicle.  When 
Michigan state police officers approached, he leveled an assault rifle 
at them and he was subsequently shot to death when he refused to comply 
with orders or lower the rifle."

--

Wades says police were hesitant at first to work with radio amateurs. 
But he says the hams' efforts made a powerful and positive impact with 
law enforcement agencies. 

--

Wades:  "When all was said and done the feedback has been incredibly 
positive.  Tremendously good comments about the professionalism and the 
skills of the radio amateurs involved. And basically I think that they 
were somewhat - almost shocked at the capabilities and the skill level 
of our ARES and RACES members in Michigan, which, of course was highly 
complimentary"

--

Around 40 radio amateurs took part in the effort to help find Woodring. 
Wades says the hams involved coordinated their work with police 
carefully, even establishing a dress code for hams reporting on scene 
with investigators. The professionalism Michigan hams showed has given 
law officers a new appreciation for the kind of help radio amateurs can 
provide when it's needed.