From: Don Ecker <decker0726@attbi.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 16:20:02 -0700
Fwd Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 13:17:43 -0400
Subject: FBI Raids Home Near Area 51


Source: KLAS-TV - Las Vegas, Nevada

http://www.klas-tv.com/global/story.asp?s=1330758


What's the Joint Terrorism Task Force Doing in the Tiny Town of
Rachel?

by George Knapp


(June 20) -- FBI agents have confirmed that a search warrant was
served Thursday night on the home of a self-described military
watchdog in the tiny town of Rachel, near the mysterious Area 51
military base. We've learned this action was initiated by the
Joint Terrorism Task Force. The search warrant remains sealed
and the FBI won't say what was seized from the home of Rachel
resident Chuck Clark. We believe the action was taken because
Chuck Clark escorted the I-Team on a tour of the roads
surrounding the base. During the visit, he showed us the
location of military sensors, hidden on public land. Here's our
story.

Retired astronomer and desert rat Chuck Clark has a new hobby.
  He's prowled the hills and deserts of Lincoln County for
several years now, has photographed exotic aircraft in the
skies, and keeps an eye on the top secret base known as Area 51.
  He's even written a book about the place. Over the past few
months, he's discovered that the military has been installing
secret sensor devices on public lands surrounding the base.
  Using a frequency counter device, he can tell when his vehicle
trips a sensor. When that happens, he looks for the hard-to-spot
wire atop the device, and then he digs them up, takes pictures,
and puts them back.

Clark isn't a terrorist or spy but is angered that hikers, four
wheelers, or photographers are being monitored by the military
on public land, miles from the boundary of the base, which is
clearly marked by signs.

Chuck Clark says, "It's overkill in my opinion. They have a 25-
mile buffer zone around the base. Why they have to put stuff
outside the line really escapes me."

During the I-Team visit last week, two sensors were located and
base security wrote down the plate numbers of our vehicles.

We returned five days ago and drove to the rear entrance of Area
51.

Two days later, FBI agents, working with Air Force intelligence
and the Joint Terrorism Task Force
[http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/counterrorism/partnership.htm],
raided Clark's home and seized photos, records and his computer.
  Is it legal for anyone to touch military sensors hidden on
public land? The government doesn't think so, although Clark
hasn't been charged with anything, is the military trying to
silence this outback gadfly?

"They're paranoid about this location and I don't see why?" asks
Clark.

We asked the BLM if it's legal for the military to put sensing
devices out on public land but a spokesman couldn't answer our
question?  Law enforcement sources say that by handling the
sensors, the devices are disabled. So it amounts to destruction
of government property. As we mentioned, Clark hasn't been
charged. He was out of the state when the warrant was served.
  Our investigation of the issues involved will continue.