Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

At aproximately 12:30AM, Friday, September 12, 2003, unmarked law enforcement cars swarmed the intersection of Bradford and Alvarado in Pomona and arrested Josh Connole, 25, on multiple counts of arson and felony vandalism relating to the firebombing (photo) of an Hummer SUV dealership in West Covina, CA, resulting in over a million dollars in damage, and the vandalising of several others; an incident claimed by the radical environmentalist group Earth Liberation Front (ELF). A joint task force consisting of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the West Covina Police Department kept Connole's residence under tight surveillance throughout the rest of the day and eventually forced the residents out to raid them, leaving lives torn apart in their wake. A West Covina Police Officer was caught on camera by an Indymedia photographer reading a journal before either of the search warrants had been signed.

Family, close friends, and housemates of Josh say the authorities have the wrong man. The law enforcement agencies claim he resembles a man on a security video taken at the scene of the crime. Several roommates of Josh report that he was helping two new residents move into the house while the crimes were allegedly taking place. "I know nothing about the crime I supposedly committed," said Josh in a phone call from his cell, "I've never been arrested for anything. I don't feel that breaking the law is the way to change things."

Josh Connole is a member of an enviromentally friendly co-op called the Regen V Cooperative. The residents of the house believe that they have been targeted and are being persecuted because of their political views; promoting environmental sustainability, a vegetarian diet, and a desire for world peace. They question the motives for the broad reaching search warrants, the methods used to carry them out, and the results that left all of the co-op members shaken and angry. "I'm probably the only person in this house who's never been to a protest," said Kathe, one of Josh's housemates, "But I think that's going to change now."

UPDATE: Josh Connole Has Obtained Lawyer, Members of Regen V Cooperative Plan on Filing Lawsuit for Civil Rights Violations.

Read the Press Release from Regen V Cooperative
Upcoming Actions to Support Josh Connole

Newswire stories on Josh Connole & RE-GEN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6