Left-Wing Activists Arrested in Attempted Armory Break-In

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Left-Wing Activists Arrested in Attempted Armory Break-In

By Tom Forbes | 04/10/09 | 04:47 PM EDT | 12 Comments

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More details are emerging on the story I reported yesterday of the arrest Wednesday night of two left-wing Seattle political activists for attempting to break in to the Pullman National Guard Armory.

Thomas Goldstein, executive director of the Washington Bus Project, and Toby Crittenden, a staff member, were in town as part of the Washington State University Civic Engagement Week. Goldstein had spoken earlier in the day at WSU, along with Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Goldstein and Crittenden were spotted around 9:55 PM Wednesday night attempting to scale the barbed wire fence behind the armory. One of them was dressed in black. Their hands were bloody, presumably from being cut on the barbed wire. According to the police probable cause affadavit, neither man was intoxicated and they carried no burglary tools or anything else that would indicate what their goal might have been, such as vandalism. A video was found on one of their cell phones, however, of the break-in attempt. The Pullman Police Department remains mystified and troubled over the motive behind this crime, as it was committed on U.S. military property. The pair, who have remained silent so far, were represented at their booking by a high-powered ~~Seattle~~ Spokane attorney.

Goldstein is a prominent figure in Seattle politics. He ran for an open Seattle City Council seat back in 1997. Seattle Magazine named "relentlessly positive activist" Goldstein as its most influential figure in Seattle politics for 2008.

The Washington Bus Project is a shadowy liberal political activist organization, ostensibly "non-partisan" in nature. As a 501(c) group, the Washington Bus does not have to divulge its financial information, but it has ties through Skyline Public Works to backers like George Soros. The group was involved in a controversy in a Vancouver City Council race last year. In a 2007 The Stranger article titled "Outside Agitators,' the group's goal was stated as "bringing urban liberals to the suburbs and beyond to help progressive candidates." In this instance, the Washington Bus Project was backing a "progressive" Whatcom County Council candidate. Not surprisingly I suppose, a Stranger reporter offered up the explanation to me this afternoon that perhaps Goldstein and Crittenden "dropped something that blew away and they were trying to fetch it" and said it was "absurd" for me to imply that were up to another anything nefarious. Riiiight.

I'll have more details as they become available.

TAGS: Washington Bus Project, Thomas Goldstein, Toby Crittenden

12 Comments | Related Topics »King County (WA) | Whitman County (WA) | WASHINGTON | National

Comments

Left-wing activists breaking

Left-wing activists breaking in to an armory? Where is the rest of the media on this? These guys didn't waste any time lawyering up.

Submitted by Dan on Fri, 04/10/09 - 05:05 PM »

This is really scary. I think

This is really scary. I think these radical left wing groups pose a much bigger threat than people realize.

Submitted by Lindsay on Fri, 04/10/09 - 05:07 PM »

One of the guys arrested was

One of the guys arrested was voted most influential person in Seattle politics?? Sounds about right.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 04/10/09 - 05:09 PM »

I went to school at WSU. I

I went to school at WSU. I know exactly where that armory is. Nobody has any business messing around there. What really makes this interesting in their backgrounds. The fact that they are associated with a left wing organization with a questionable history certainly should raise some eyebrows.

Submitted by Alex on Fri, 04/10/09 - 05:13 PM »

The local media has been

The local media has been trying to get the Spokane TV stations to cover this, but no one will bite. Typical. If these guys had been associated with militia or survivalist movements, or were of Middle Eastern origin, I think you would see a whole different level of coverage.

Submitted by Tom Forbes on Fri, 04/10/09 - 05:23 PM »

I'm guessing these cowards

I'm guessing these cowards were there on some sort of war protest, in an attempt of vandalism. Curious that no implements were found; perhaps there were others involved that weren't found out.

I hope the feds throw the book at them, but I doubt that will happen. Attempted break-ins of armories are some seriously wacky activity.

Submitted by Shaun on Fri, 04/10/09 - 07:14 PM »

TYPICAL LIBERAL PUNK'S!!!!

THIS REMINDS ME WHEN I WAS VOLUNTEERING AT THE MACCAIN OFFICE IN HOLLYWOOD FL.THEY SCRATCHED OUR CARS. TOOK OUR MCCAIN YARD SIGNS. BURNED OUR SIGNS. RIPPED OUR BIG MCCAIN SIGN THAT WAS ON OUR BUILDING.TRIED TO BREAK IN OUR OFFICE. TOLD US TO GO FU_ _ OUURSELVES IN FRONT OF THIER CHILDREN!! THEY THREW GLASS BOTTLES AT US WHEN WE WOULD GO BY THE VOTING POLLS WITH OUR BIG MACCAIN SIGN THAT WAS ON OUR TRUCK .IT WENT ON AND ON!! BUT WHEN WE WOULD GO TO THE MEDIA THEY NEVER TAKE OUR STORY!! HMMMMMMMMM I WOUNDER WHY?LIBERALS ARE ALL FOR FREE SPEACH UNLESS WHEN YOU DISAGREE WITH THEM!!! THEY ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF PUNKS!!

Submitted by MR.GOP on Fri, 04/10/09 - 08:02 PM »

Is the armory State or

Is the armory State or Federal property?

If it is Federal, I hope they face Federal charges.

Anyway... Maybe they got the idea from the weather underground.

PS I shared it here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2226644/posts

( 26 replies · 895+ views)

Submitted by MD on Sat, 04/11/09 - 01:59 AM »

omg people will blow any story out of proportion

this is the most ridiculous excuse for sensationalized news i've ever heard of. did these guys do something stupid, yes, but i highly doubt there was anything but 2 guys making a bad choice. unfortunately we'll probably never hear the truth, cuz that won't be news worthy.

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 04/11/09 - 03:47 PM »

Blown out of proportion?

Blown out of proportion? These lefty nuts were breaking-in to a National Guard Armory. These weren't kids. These were two people are very involved in Seattle politics and working with left wing organization. This guy ran for Seattle City Council, was voted most inlfuential political figure by Seattle Magazine and he then gets caught breaking in to an armory? Please.

So, based on your need to downplay this, I'm assuming you either know these two clowns or you are directly associated with them? Most likely the latter. If this isn't news worthy, nothing is.

At the very least, they are a couple of brain-dead idiot. On the other hand, they were up to something more sinister. Either way, they are both finished.

Submitted by Alex on Sat, 04/11/09 - 04:26 PM »

See, this is why we are a

See, this is why we are a nation not of individuals, but of laws. As long as you agree with their politics, and they aren't trespassing on your property, then it's acceptable to you. Garbage. Throw the book at these idiots. I don't care WHAT they were doing. If a 10 foot tall fence with razor wire won't deter them, perhaps some jail time and a steep fine will.

Submitted by Jeff Williams on Wed, 04/15/09 - 01:16 AM »

Scary!

These Lefty wing-nuts instantly hired a high-powered (ergo high priced) lawyer? Oh yeah, there IS something to worry about. Guys like this are just the tip of the iceberg and we need to be wary.

Submitted by R.J. on Tue, 04/14/09 - 05:17 PM »