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Marine Veteran Brandon J. Raub Arrested for Facebook Posts

Monday, August 20, 2012 5:41

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(Before It's News)

Around 7:30pm, August 16, decorated U.S. Marine Veteran Brandon J. Raub was taken into custody for airing his critical views of the U.S. Government on his Facebook by Chesterfield County Police, who were accompanied by several FBI and Secret Service agents. He was handcuffed, not read his rights, put into a Chesterfield Police Department vehicle and taken to John Randolph Medical Center in Hopewell, Virginia where he currently being held in the psychiatric ward.

Virginia CopBlock said:

Brandon is a 26 year old Marine Veteran; a self-described freedom lover and patriot, and an outspoken advocate against abusive government, particularly on his facebook page. According to Brandon’s account and other witnesses, police and government agents arrived at Brandon’s home moments after everyone else who was at the house had left. They knocked on his door and demanded to speak with him regarding some posts they claimed to be ‘anti-government’. Information about the conversation and full interaction that occurred at this point is still surfacing; but we’ve been told Brandon came outside his home, barefoot and without a shirt, and remained calm and peaceful throughout the discussion. While talking with the various government officials in front of his house, one of the plain clothes agents apparently fainted. As Brandon’s brother and others began returning to the house, Brandon was led to the street by a Female FBI agent, accompanied by several other agents and Chesterfield Police Officers. They then surrounded Brandon and did not inform him that he was under arrest, instead simply assaulting him without warning. After a momentary attempt to defend himself from his attackers, he was cuffed and taken away without being told the reason (charge) for his arrest. His family was later informed that he had been taken to the John Randolph Medical Center, where he will remain in State custody until he can be given a mental evaluation.

Virginia CopBlock has learned that this form of arrest/detention is known as a “Green Warrant”, often known as a “Mental Health Warrant”. If a person is credibly believed to be a potential threat to themselves or others, a “Green Warrant” can be issued. This allows government authorities to arrest and detain the person for up to 72 hours; and have them evaluated to determine if they are “mentally unfit”, and would pose a threat if released.

Basically, the government can detain you for a “thought crime.”

At this point, we are not aware of anyone who has been able to see the warrant, so we are unaware of the exact language of it, which would reveal the alleged ‘threat’ (Facebook post) and who requested the warrant be issued. At this point, we have still not determined who has the warrant.

At the Chesterfield Police Station shortly after the arrest, Brandon’s mother attempted to find out more information about the situation. The police claim the FBI and Secret Service contacted them to request assistance with Brandon’s arrest. One officer claimed Brandon has been charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ and ‘resisting arrest’ by the Chesterfield Police (another officer claiming the charges were ‘assault’ and ‘resisting arrest’), over an alleged altercation that took place during the arrest. Virginia CopBlock is still unsure if Brandon has actually been charged with anything, as his mother has determined that no charges have been filed at this point. However, his current detainment is not related to any criminal charges, or anything that happened the night of his arrest.

His mother, Kathleen Thomas, says it is another case of the word ‘terrorist’ being applied to arrest and detain a citizen. Ms. Thomas makes her points loud and clear.

Thomas says her son was questioned about why he was writing certain comments, “He basically said ‘I have some disagreements with the government and share this’, and they said, ‘You have to go with us’”.

Agent Sherry Grainger with the Federal Bureau of Investigation called Kathleen Thomas, who described the conversation.

The agent asked about whether her son was violent, Thomas explained that he was not, but that he loves his country. She asked the FBI agent if freedom of speech still exists in the United States.

“Yes, we still have freedom of speech”, Grainger reportedly said.

The FBI agent reportedly added, “The threats that he was making were terrorist in nature,” telling Thomas roughly the extent of information that has been released so far, which is not much. Thomas was able to talk to her son on the phone.

As to what he is being charged with, she said, “He does not know, he has no idea why he is being held, he is told he will see a judge on Monday.”

At the beginning of the conversation, Grainger, reportedly told the woman that her son Brandon Raub was arrested for assault and resisting arrest. It wasn’t until later when Grainger stated that the comments made by Raub were “terrorist in nature”.

Thomas said in regard to the political view she and her son share, “We’re not violent, but we’re very serious about what we believe. He is a patriot. He basically said that they, the government, are lying.”