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Report of THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
on the BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS
Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell
also known as David Koresh September 1993
For the actual report and links to other Appendixes click
here.
Appendix C
ATF Operations Plans
Original Operations Plan
February 25, 1993
OPERATIONS PLAN
1. SITUATION:
A. CIRCUMSTANCES: On March 1, 1993 a Federal Search Warrant will be
executed on the premises known as the residence of Vernon Wayne
Howell, AKA: David Koresh, and others, along with all outbuildings
and appurtenances and vehicles located on the premises.
B. TERRAIN: The premises is in a rural setting, located on an
approximate 77 acre tract of land, nearly 14 miles north and east
of Waco, Texas. The premises contains the residences of
approximately eighty (80) men, women and children, along with
storage buildings and other structures.
C. TARGET: Howell is the leader of a religious cult known as Branch
Davidian and the premises has been named the Mount Carmel Center.
For the past several years Howell has been receiving firearms parts
which, if combined, could constitute the manufacture of
machineguns. Also, he has been receiving shipments of chemicals and
explosive materials which, if combined, could constitute the
manufacture of explosive devices. These deliveries have been made
through a cult operated mail drop known as the "Mag Bag".
Additionally, nearby neighbors have reported hearing what they
believe to be the sound of automatic weapons being fired in the
nighttime coming from the Howell residence.
D. SUBJECT: Vernon Wayne Howell is a white, male, born on August
17, 1959. He first took control of the Mount Carmel Center in early
1988 after an armed assault on the previous occupant in November of
1987. Howell, according to credible witnesses, depicts himself as
Jesus Christ incarnate, requires all cult members to turn over all
of their personal belongings to him, and he also sexually
appropriates all of the female cult members for himself
exclusively, to include female children as young as thirteen.
Howell has surrounded himself with a group of approximately ten
male cult members who have either criminal records and/or special
skills which might precipitate violence during the execution of the
search warrant.
2. MISSION:
The objective of the operation is to safely enter the premises of
the Mount Carmel Center, to search the entire premises (to include
the upper level residence of Howell and all other living quarters)
for evidence of the manufacture of machineguns and explosive
devices and for the machineguns and devices which may have already
been manufactured. Personal identification of all persons on the
premises will be accomplished and any persons who have outstanding
warrants and/or immigration violations will be detained pending
release to proper authorities. All others will be allowed to either
leave the premises or to remain, as they may desire, once the
search has been concluded.
3. EXECUTION:
A. HOW THE OBJECTIVE WILL BE ATTAINED: Utilizing a number of
facilities and the services of a wide array of Federal, State and
local agencies, ATF will accomplish the mission. On Sunday,
February 28, 1993, at approximately 8:30 p.m., an undercover ATF
special agent will admit the Deputy Tactical Coordinator into an
undercover residence which is across the road from the premises
where the warrant will be served. Sometime prior to 8:30 a.m., on
Monday, March 1, 1993, the undercover agent will position Forward
Observers outside the premises, front and rear, in semi-concealed
locations. At 9:00 a.m., Monday, March 1, 1993, the Tactical
Coordinator will gather the tactical elements at a large parking
lot site approximately eight miles away from the premises. The
Tactical Coordinator will advise the undercover special agent by
STU phone that the tactical elements are in position at which time
the undercover special agent will visit the premises and identify
the location of Howell and other principals. He will also check for
recent changes at the premises and for any barriers or obstructions
which may have recently been erected which might deter entry.
After his check of the premises, the undercover special agent will
return to the undercover residence across the road and he will
advise the Deputy Tactical Coordinator of his findings. The Deputy
Tactical Coordinator will advise the Tactical Coordinator by STU
phone of the conditions at the premises. Once the
premises site has been determined to be functioning normally, the
Tactical Coordinator will advise the three road block sites to
begin their road blocks and he will deploy his tactical force of
approximately seventy SRT special agents into two cattle trailers
being pulled by civilian trucks and being driven by qualified
special agents. The Tactical Coordinator will ride as a passenger
in one of the trucks pulling a cattle trailer. He will be
accompanied by an EMT trained special agent assigned to the SRT. As
the Tactical Coordinator deploys, he will notify the Deputy
Tactical Coordinator, who will then broadcast a radio message to
the Command Post, air support units, the road block units and the
standby ambulance unit that the tactical operation has begun.
Following a prearranged flight schedule, the three helicopters
participating in the operation as well as the fixed wing aircraft,
will depart from their staging area and will proceed to approach
and hold a position at the rear of the premises. Their arrival at
the rear of the premises will coincide with and cause a diversion
for the entry by the SRT trailers at the front entrance to the
premises. One of the helicopters will be occupied by the Incident
Commander or his Deputy to provide an overall assessment of the
tactical operation from his vantage point.
The New Orleans Division SRT will lead the entry into the main
structure of the premises and will push straight ahead toward the
interior staircase. They will proceed to the third level and will
contain all persons found at that location. Next in line of entry
will be the Houston Division SRT which will split in to two
separate groups. The first group will make entry to the main
structure immediately behind the New Orleans SRT and will spread to
the left which is a series of bedrooms. The second group will
disperse around the perimeter of the premises and contain any
persons found. The Dallas Division SRT will immediately follow the
Houston SRT which entered the structure and will spread to the
right and to the rear.
Once all persons on the premises have been located, they will be
assembled in the central area of the structure. Vernon Howell will
be segregated from the rest of the group so as to minimize any
attempt on his part to exhort his followers to some action. Once
facilities have been erected outside the structure on the premises,
all persons will be removed to those
outside facilities to be identified and interviewed. Simultaneous
with the structure being cleared of the cult members, a search of
the entire premises will begin by those who have been designated to
perform this function. Perimeter and internal security duties will
be performed by additional ATF special agents until such time as
the scene can be released.
B. CONTINGENCIES: On February 28, 1993, a Texas Air National Guard
aircraft will overfly the premises and will photograph the entire
area. This reconnaissance will provide information regarding any
late changes at the site of the tactical operation which will take
place the following day.
On March 1, 1993, an ambulance will be positioned at the site of
the road block closest to the premises. This ambulance will be
manned by qualified Emergency Medical Technicians and will provide
nearly immediate response to any injuries sustained in the tactical
operation.
At the airfield at TSTC, immediately adjacent to the CP, a
Careflight helicopter with a registered nurse aboard will be
standing by in the event that an aerial evacuation of an injured
person from the premises is required.
4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS:
A. ASSIGNMENTS AND LODGING: On February 23, 1993 the case agent
will appear before the United States Magistrate and have the
Federal Search Warrant Affidavit approved and the Federal Search
Warrant signed.
On February 24, 1993 the Tactical Coordinator, the Deputy Tactical
Coordinator, and the ATF SRT Team Leaders and their assistants will
travel so as to arrive at Fort Hood, Texas by 1400 hours. Lodging
will be arranged in the military barracks at Fort Hood to
accommodate twenty (20) persons.
On February 24, 1993 the Incident Commander, the Deputy Incident
Commander, the Support Coordinator, and his support staff will
travel to the Texas State Technical College (TSTC), Waco, Texas to
set up the Command Post
(CP). Accommodations will be arranged in a Waco motel for eleven
(11) persons.
On February 24, 1993, two Communications Specialists will assist in
the set up of the CP. Once the CP has been established, they will
depart for Temple/Belton, Texas where they will establish a radio
repeater site and be lodged in a motel. The Temple/Belton location
is equidistant between Fort Hood and Waco and the repeater site at
this location will facilitate radio transmissions between the SRT
elements at Fort Hood and the CP at TSTC in Waco.
On February 25, 1993, the thirty-seven (37) Sector SRT members
arrive at Fort Hood, Texas by 1400 hours and they are initially
briefed by the Incident Commander and his staff. They will be
lodged in the military barracks at Fort Hood to accommodate what is
now a group of fifty-seven (57) persons.
On February 26, 1993, thirty-four (34) ATF special agents from the
Houston, New Orleans, and Dallas Divisions arrive at Fort Hood,
Texas by 1400 hours. These special agents represent auxiliary
personnel who will be utilized in the identification and
interviewing of detainees at the site of the warrant execution.
They will be lodged in the military barracks at Fort Hood to
accommodate what has now become a group of ninety-one (91) persons.
On February 26, 1993, one ATF special agent/pilot and two Texas Air
National Guard pilots arrive in Waco at TSTC with their aircraft.
They are lodged in a Waco motel and their presence increases the
number of operational personnel in Waco to fourteen (14) persons.
On February 27, 1993, the Sector SRT personnel and other special
agents assigned to the tactical operation will practice the tactics
of the warrant execution at Fort Hood, Texas.
On February 27, 1993, two Public Information Officers (PIO) will
arrive at the CP at TSTC in Waco. They will be lodged in Waco and
will increase the number of personnel at this location to sixteen
(16) persons.
On February 27, 1993, the Project Alliance Coordinator will arrive
at the Temple/Belton, Texas location where he will meet with the
Communications Specialists, bringing the number of operational
personnel in this
location to three (3).
On February 28, 1993, the ninety-one (91) Sector SRT members and
additional support special agents will travel from Fort Hood, Texas
to Waco, Texas. The Communications Specialists and the Project
Alliance Coordinator in Temple/Belton, Texas will relocate to Waco,
Texas. A representative from the Tactical Response Branch, Special
Operations Division, Bureau Headquarters will arrive in Waco. Two
(2) representatives from the Explosives Technology Branch will
arrive in Waco and two (2) fingerprint examiners from the ATF
Laboratory will also arrive in Waco. On this date ten (10) Texas
National Guard Aviation support personnel will arrive in Waco as
well as twenty-five (25) additional ATF special agents from the
Houston and Dallas Divisions. The total number of operational
personnel lodged in Waco this night will be one hundred-fifty (150)
persons.
On March 1, 1993 the Federal Search Warrant will be executed as
outlined in section 3A of this plan.
B. EQUIPMENT: The following special equipment, beyond what is
normally carried by SRT members, was authorized for purchase during
this tactical operation:
100 Flex Cuffs
250 Hospital ID Bracelets
2 Inertial Rams
1 Bolt Cutters 2 "Hooligan" pry bars, 30 inch
31 Sets of knee and elbow pads
26 Pair of Protective Goggles
3 Halon type, 13 lb, fire extinguishers
5. COMMAND AND SIGNALS:
A. COMMAND POST: The Command Post (CP) will be physically located
at the Airport Manager's Building, immediately adjacent to the
airfield at the Texas State Technical College (TSTC), approximately
eight (8) miles north of Waco, Texas. The CP will be the
operational headquarters for the Incident Commander, the Deputy
Incident Commander, and the Support Coordinator and his staff.
B. SIGNALS: The CP will provide the Incident Commander with point-
to-point Coded DES communications between all elements of the
tactical operation and the National Command Center. These
communications capabilities are: handheld radios, mobile radios,
fixed site equipment, satellite cellular communication with secure
STU III and Secure/Clear FAX. This will be accomplished through the
installation of a Motorola Micor 100 watt repeater in the airfield
control tower, an antenna installed on top of the airfield control
tower, a portable System Saber base station and a secure STU III
telephone unit with Secure/Clear FAX capability along with four
secure point-to-point deskset telephones.
C. COMMANDS:
Modified Operations Plan
Provided to Texas Rangers
on March 11, 1993
OPERATIONS PLAN
1. SITUATION:
A. CIRCUMSTANCES:
On [February 28], 1993 a Federal Search Warrant will be
executed on the premises known as the residence of Vernon
Wayne Howell, AKA: David Koresh, and others, along with
all outbuildings and appurtenances and vehicles located
on the premises. [(Annex B, Affidavit for Federal Search
Warrant)]
B. TERRAIN:
The premises is in a rural setting, located on an
approximate 77 acre tract of land, nearly 14 miles north
and east of Waco, Texas. The premises contains the
residences of approximately eighty (80) men, women and
children, along with storage buildings and other
structures. [(Annex C)]
C. TARGET:
Howell is the leader of a religious cult known as Branch
Davidian and the premises has been named the Mount Carmel
Center. For the past several years Howell has been
receiving firearms parts which, if combined, could
constitute the manufacture of machineguns. Also, he has
been receiving shipments of chemicals and explosive
materials which, if combined, could constitute the
manufacture of explosive devices. These deliveries have
been made through a cult operated mail drop known as the
"Mag Bag". Additionally, nearby neighbors have reported
hearing what they believe to be the sound of automatic
weapons being fired in the nighttime coming from the
Howell residence. [Annex D, Deliveries to the Mag Bag)]
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the original operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part of the
operations plan.
D. SUBJECT:
Vernon Wayne Howell is a white, male, born on August 17, 1959. He
first took control of the Mount Carmel Center in early 1988 after an
armed assault on the previous occupant in November of 1987. Howell,
according to credible witnesses, depicts himself as Jesus Christ
incarnate, requires all cult members to turn over all of their
personal belongings to him, and he also sexually appropriates all of
the female cult members for himself exclusively, to include female
children as young as thirteen. Howell has surrounded himself with a
group of approximately ten male cult members who have either criminal
records and/or special skills which might precipitate violence during
the execution of the search warrant. [The subject has not left the
compound in months and has made statements that he does not plan to
leave.]
2. MISSION:
The objective of the operation is to safely enter the premises of the
Mount Carmel Center, to search the entire premises (to include the
upper level residence of Howell and all other living quarters) for
evidence of the manufacture of machineguns and explosive devices and
for the machineguns and devices which may have already been
manufactured. [The women, men, and firearms are kept in different
areas in the structure. Usually at approximately 10:00 a.m. in
the
morning, the majority of the males and Howell should be in the
underground area. SRT teams have been divided to handle the areas
listed above.] Personal identification of all persons on the
premises will be accomplished and any persons who have outstanding
warrants and/or immigration violations will be detained pending
release to proper authorities. All others will be allowed to either
leave the premises or to remain, as they may desire, once the search
has been concluded.
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the
original operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part
of the operations plan.
3. EXECUTION:
Utilizing a number of facilities and the services of a wide array of
Federal, State
and local agencies, ATF will accomplish the mission. On Sunday, [February
27,]1993,
at approximately 8:30 p.m., an undercover ATF special agent will admit
the Deputy
Tactical Coordinator into an undercover residence which is across the
road from the
premises where the warrant will be served. Sometime prior to 8:30 a.m.,
on [Sunday,
February 28,] 1993, the undercover agent will position Forward Observers
outside the
premises, front and rear, in semi-concealed locations. At 9:00 a.m.,
[Sunday,
February 28,] 1993, the Tactical Coordinator will gather the tactical
elements at a
large parking lot site approximately [thirteen] miles away from the
premises. The
Tactical Coordinator will advise the undercover special agent by STU
phone that the
tactical elements are in position at which time the undercover special
agent will
visit the premises and identify the location of Howell and other principals.
He will
also check for recent changes at the premises and for any barriers
or obstructions
which may have recently been erected which might deter entry.
After his check of the premises, the undercover special agent will return
to the
undercover residence across the road and he will advise the Deputy
Tactical
Coordinator of his findings. The [undercover special agent] will advise
the Tactical
Coordinator by STU phone of the conditions at the premises. Once the
premises site
has been determined to be functioning normally, the Tactical Coordinator
will advise
the three road block sites to begin their road blocks and he will deploy
his
tactical force of approximately [eighty] SRT special agents into two
cattle trailers
being pulled by civilian trucks and being driven by qualified special
agents. The
Tactical Coordinator will ride as a passenger in one of the trucks
pulling a cattle
trailer. He will be accompanied by an EMT trained special agent assigned
to the SRT.
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the
original
operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part
of the operations plan.
As the Tactical Coordinator deploys, he will notify the Deputy Tactical
Coordinator,
who will notify him if the operation is a go until they reach the residence.
The
Deputy Tactical Coordinator then will broadcast a radio message to
the Command Post,
air support units, the road block units and the standby ambulance unit
that the
tactical operation has begun. (Annex F, Block Map)
Following a prearranged flight schedule, the three helicopters participating
in the
operation as well as the fixed wing aircraft, will depart from their
staging area
and will proceed to approach and hold a position at the rear of the
premises. Their
arrival at the rear of the premises will coincide with and cause a
diversion for the
entry by the SRT trailers at the front entrance to the premises. One
of the
helicopters will be occupied by the Incident Commander or his Deputy
to provide an
overall assessment of the tactical operation from his vantage point.
The New Orleans Division SRT will lead the entry to the right side of
the main
structure of the premises and will make entry from the roof into the
second floor
windows of the Arms room and Koresh's room. They will proceed to the
rear of the
structure and will contain all persons found at that location after
entry. Next in
line of entry will be the Houston Division SRT which will split into
two separate
groups. The first group will make entry to the main structure front
door area and
will spread to the left which is a series of mens bedrooms.
The second group will disperse around the perimeter of the premises
and contain
those persons found in the underground area. The Dallas Division SRT
will
immediately follow the Houston SRT which entered the structure and
will go upstairs
and clear 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor areas which contains the womens bedrooms.
Two
outside teams of non-SRT team members will provide outside cover on
all sides of the
structure. A third team of non-SRT team members will be used
for custody control of
people.
(Handwritten notation in left margin of paper reads: "2nd HFD SRT will
actually
enter underground area to prevent exit and retreat into dormitory area")
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the
original
operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part
of the operations plan.
Once all persons on the premises have been located, they will be assembled
in the
central area of the structure. Vernon Howell will be segregated from
the rest of the
group so as to minimize any attempt on his part to exhort his followers
to some
action. Once facilities have been erected outside the structure on
the premises, all
persons will be removed to those outside facilities to be identified
and
interviewed. Simultaneous with the structure being cleared of the cult
members, a
search of the entire premises will begin by those who have been designated
to
perform this function. Perimeter and internal security duties will
be performed by
additional ATF special agents until such time as the scene can be released.
B. CONTINGENCIES:
On February 28, 1993, a Texas Air National Guard aircraft will overfly
the premises
and will photograph the entire area. This reconnaissance will provide
information
regarding any late changes at the site of the tactical operation which
will take
place the following day.
On [February 29,] 1993, an ambulance will be positioned at the site
of the road
block closest to the premises. This ambulance will be manned by qualified
Emergency
Medical Technicians and will provide nearly immediate response to any
injuries
sustained in the tactical operation.
At the airfield at TSTC, immediately adjacent to the CP, a Careflight
helicopter
with a registered nurse aboard will be standing by in the event that
an aerial
evacuation of an injured person from the premises is required.
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the
original
operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part
of the operations plan.
4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS:
A. ASSIGNMENTS AND LODGING: On February 23, 1993 the case agent will
appear before
the United States Magistrate and have the Federal Search Warrant Affidavit
approved
and the Federal Search Warrant signed.
On February 24, 1993 the Tactical Coordinator, the Deputy Tactical Coordinator,
and
the ATF SRT Team Leaders and their assistants will travel so as to
arrive at Fort
Hood, Texas by 1400 hours. Lodging will be arranged in the military
barracks at Fort
Hood to accommodate twenty (20) persons.
On February 24, 1993 the Incident Commander, the Deputy Incident Commander,
the
Support Coordinator, and his support staff will travel to the Texas
State Technical
College (TSTC), Waco, Texas to set up the Command Post (CP). Accommodations
will be
arranged in a Waco motel for eleven (11) persons.
On February 24, 1993, two Communications Specialists will assist in
the set up of
the CP. Once the CP has been established, they will depart for Temple/Belton,
Texas
where they will establish a radio repeater site and be lodged in a
motel. The
Temple/Belton location is equidistant between Fort Hood and Waco and
the repeater
site at this location will facilitate radio transmissions between the
SRT elements
at Fort Hood and the CP at TSTC in Waco.
On February 25, 1993, the thirty-seven (37) Sector SRT members arrive
at Fort Hood,
Texas by 1400 hours and they are initially briefed by the Incident
Commander and his
staff. They will be lodged in the military barracks at Fort Hood to
accommodate what
is now a group of fifty-seven (57) persons.
On February 26, 1993, thirty-four (34) ATF special agents from the Houston,
New
Orleans, and Dallas Divisions arrive at Fort Hood, Texas by 1400 hours.
These
special agents represent auxiliary personnel who will be utilized in
the
identification and interviewing of detainees at the site of the warrant
execution.
They will be lodged in the military barracks at Fort Hood to accommodate
what has
now become a group of ninety-one (91) persons.
On February 26, 1993, one ATF special agent/pilot and two Texas Air
National Guard
pilots arrive in Waco at TSTC with their aircraft. They are lodged
in a Waco motel
and their presence increases the number of operational personnel in
Waco to fourteen
(14) persons.
On February 27, 1993, the Sector SRT personnel and other special agents
assigned to
the tactical operation will practice the tactics of the warrant execution
at Fort
Hood, Texas.
On February 27, 1993, two Public Information Officers (PIO) will arrive
at the CP at
TSTC in Waco. They will be lodged in Waco and will increase the number
of personnel
at this location to sixteen (16) persons.
On February 27, 1993, the Project Alliance Coordinator will arrive at
the
Temple/Belton, Texas location where he will meet with the Communications
Specialists, bringing the number of operational personnel in this location
to three
(3). Two (2) representatives from the ExPlosives Technology Branch
will arrive in
Waco and two (2) fingerprint examiners from the ATF Laboratory will
also arrive in
Waco. On this date ten (10) Texas National Guard Aviation support personnel
will
arrive in Waco as well as twenty-five (25) additional AFT special agents
from the
Houston and Dallas Divisions. The total number of operational personnel
lodged in
Waco this night will be one hundred-fifty (150) persons.
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the
original
operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part
of the operations plan.
{On February 28, 1993, the ninety-one (91) Sector SRT members and additional
support
special agents will travel from Fort Hood, Texas to Waco, Texas} [to
the staging are
from which point they will prepare to execute the search warrant as
outlined in
Section 3A of this plan.
EQUIPMENT:
The following special equipment, beyond what is normally carried by
SRT members, was
authorized for purchase during this tactical operation:
100 Flex Cuffs
250 Hospital ID Bracelets
2 Inertial Rams
1 Bolt Cutters
2 "Hooligan" pry bars, 30 inch
31 Sets of knee and elbow pads
26 Pair of Protective Goggles
3 Halon type, 13 lb, fire extinguisher
5. COMMAND AND SIGNALS:
A. COMMAND POST:
The Command Post (CP) will be physically located at the Airport Manager's
Building,
immediately adjacent to the airfield at the Texas State Technical College
(TSTC),
approximately eight (8) miles north of Waco, Texas. The CP will be
the operational
headquarters for the Incident Commander, the Deputy Incident Commander,
and the
Support Coordinator and his staff. [(Annex G, Reporting Instructions.)]
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the
original
operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part
of the operations plan.
B. SIGNALS:
The CP will provide the Incident Commander with point-to-point Coded
DES
communications between all elements of the tactical operation and the
National
Command Center. These communications capabilities are: handheld radios,
mobile
radios, fixed site equipment, satellite cellular communication with
secure STU III
and Secure/Clear FAX. This will be accomplished through the installation
of a
Motorola Micor 100 watt repeater in the airfield control tower, an
antenna installed
on top of the airfield control tower, a portable System Saber base
station and a
secure STU III telephone unit with Secure/Clear FAX capability along
with four
secure point-to-point deskset telephones. [(Annex H, Common Plan)]
* - Text in square brackets [] represents text that was added to the
original
operations plan.
Sentences in {} brackets represent original text which was moved to
a different part
of the operations plan.
Final Raid Plan incorporating the handwritten changes from March 11,
1993 version. This document was provided to Texas Rangers on
March
22, 1993 and later to the Review
OPERATIONS PLAN
1. SITUATION:
A. CIRCUMSTANCES:
On February 28, 1993 a Federal Search Warrant will be
executed on the premises known as the residence of
Vernon Wayne Howell, AKA: David Koresh, and others,
along with all outbuildings and appurtenances and
vehicles located on the premises. (Annex B, Affidavit
for Federal Search Warrant)
B. TERRAIN:
The premises is in a rural setting, located on an
approximate 77 acre tract of land, nearly 14 miles
north and east of Waco, Texas. The premises contains
the residences of approximately eighty (80) men, women
and children, along with storage buildings and other
structures. (Annex C)
C. TARGET:
Howell is the leader of a religious cult known as
Branch Davidian and the premises has been named the
Mount Carmel Center. For the past several years Howell
has been receiving firearms parts which, if combined,
could constitute the manufacture of machineguns. Also,
he has been receiving shipments of chemicals and
explosive materials which, if combined, could
constitute the manufacture of explosive devices. These
deliveries have been made through a cult operated mail
drop known as the "Mag Bag". Additionally, nearby
neighbors have reported hearing what they believe to be
the sound of automatic weapons being fired in the
nighttime coming from the Howell residence. (Annex D,
Deliveries to Mag Bag)
-------------------------------------------------------
* Text in brackets [] represents the handwritten notes
of the incident commander incorporated into operations
plan.
SUBJECT:
Vernon Wayne Howell is a white, male, born on August 17, 1959. He
first took control of the Mount Carmel Center in early 1988 after
an armed assault on the previous occupant in November of 1987.
Howell, according to credible witnesses, depicts himself as Jesus
Christ incarnate, requires all cult members to turn over all of
their personal belongings to him, and he also sexually appropriates
all of the female cult members for himself exclusively, to include
female children as young as thirteen. Howell has surrounded himself
with a group of approximately ten male cult members who have either
criminal records and/or special skills which might precipitate
violence during the execution of the search warrant. The subject
has not left the compound in months and has made statements that he
does not plan to leave. (Annex E)
2. MISSION:
The objective of the operation is to safely enter the premises of
the Mount Carmel Center, to search the entire premises (to include
the upper level residence of Howell and all other living quarters)
for evidence of the manufacture of machineguns and explosive
devices and for the machineguns and devices which may have already
been manufactured. The women, men and firearms are kept in
different areas in the structure. Usually at approximately 10:00
a.m. in the morning, the majority of the males and Howell should be
in the underground area. SRT teams have been divided to handle the
areas listed above. Personal identification of all persons on the
premises will be accomplished and any persons who have outstanding
warrants and/or immigration violations will be detained pending
release to proper authorities. All others will be allowed to either
leave the premises or to remain, as they may desire once the search
has been concluded.
3. EXECUTION:
A. CONCEPT OF OPERATION:
Utilizing a number of facilities and the services of a
wide array of Federal, State and local agencies, ATF
will accomplish the mission. On Sunday, February 27,
1993, at approximately 8:30 p.m., an undercover ATF
special agent will admit the Deputy Tactical
Coordinator into an undercover residence which is
across the road from the premises where the warrant
will be served. Sometime prior to 8:30 a.m., on Sunday,
February 28, 1993, the undercover agent will position
Forward Observers outside the premises, front and rear,
in semi-concealed locations. At 9:00 a.m., Sunday,
February 28, 1993, the Tactical Coordinator will gather
the tactical elements at a large parking lot site
approximately thirteen miles away from the premises.
The Tactical Coordinator will advise the undercover
special agent by STU phone that the tactical elements
are in position at which time the undercover special
agent will visit the premises and identify the location
of Howell and other principals. He will also check for
recent changes at the premises and for any barriers or
obstructions which may have recently been erected which
might deter entry.
After his check of the premises, the undercover special
agent will return to the undercover residence across
the road and he will advise the Deputy Tactical
Coordinator of his findings. The undercover special
agent will advise the Tactical Coordinator by STU phone
of the conditions at the premises. Once the premises
site has been determined to be functioning normally,
the Tactical Coordinator will advise the three road
block sites to begin their road blocks and he will
deploy his tactical force of approximately eighty SRT
special agents into two cattle trailers being pulled by
civilian trucks and being driven by qualified special
agents. The Tactical Coordinator will ride as a
passenger in one of the trucks pulling a cattle
trailer. He will be accompanied by an EMT trained
special agent assigned to the SRT.
As the Tactical Coordinator deploys, he will notify the
Deputy Tactical Coordinator, who will notify him if the
operation is a go until they reach the residence. The
Deputy Tactical Coordinator then will broadcast a radio
message to the Command Post, air support units, the
road block units and the standby ambulance unit that
the tactical operation has begun (Annex F, Block Map)
Following a prearranged flight schedule, the three
helicopters participating in the operation as well as
the fixed wing aircraft, will depart from their staging
area and will proceed to approach and hold a position
at the rear of the premises. Their arrival at the rear
of the premises will coincide with and cause a
diversion for the entry by the SRT trailers at the
front entrance to the premises. One of the helicopters
will be occupied by the Incident Commander or his
Deputy to provide an overall assessment of the tactical
operation from his vantage point.
The New Orleans Division SRT will lead the entry to the
right side of the main structure of the premises and
will make entry from the roof into the second floor
windows of the Arms room and Koresh's room. They will
proceed to the rear of the structure and will contain
all persons found at that location after entry. Next in
line of entry will be the Houston Division SRT which
will split into two separate groups. The first group
will make entry to the main structure front door area
and will spread to the left which is a series of mens
bedrooms.
The second group will [enter the underground area,
contain those persons found in the underground area, in
order to keep them from returning through the "tunnel"
into the men's dormitory area encountering the Houston
SRT. The Dallas Division SRT will immediately follow
the Houston SRT which entered the structure and will go
upstairs and clear 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor area which
contains the womens bedrooms. Two outside teams of
non-SRT team members will provide outside cover on all
sides of the structure. A third team of non-SRT team
members will be used for custody control of people.
Once all persons on the premises have been located,
they will be assembled in the central area of the
structure. Vernon Howell will be segregated from the
rest of the group so as to minimize any attempt on his
part to exhort his followers to some action. Once
facilities have been erected outside the structure on
the premises, all persons will be removed to those
outside facilities to be identified and interviewed.
Simultaneous with the structure being cleared of the
cult members, a search of the entire premises will
begin by those who have been designated to perform this
function. Perimeter and internal security duties will
be performed by additional ATF special agents until
such time as the scene can be released.
CONTINGENCIES:
On February 28, 1993, a Texas Air National Guard
aircraft will overfly the premises and will photograph
the entire area. This reconnaissance will provide
information regarding any late changes at the site of
the tactical operation which will take place the
following day.
On February 28, 1993, an ambulance will be positioned
at the site of the road block closest to the premises.
This ambulance will be manned by qualified Emergency
Medical Technicians and will provide nearly immediate
response to any injuries sustained in the tactical
operation.
At the airfield at TSTC, immediately adjacent to the
CP, a Careflight helicopter with a registered nurse
aboard will be standing by in the event that an aerial
evacuation of an injured person from the Premises is
required.
4. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS:
A. ASSIGNMENTS AND LODGING: On February 23, 1993 the
case agent will appear before the United States
Magistrate and have the Federal Search Warrant
Affidavit approved and the Federal Search Warrant
signed.
On February 24, 1993 the Tactical Coordinator, the
Deputy Tactical Coordinator, and the ATF SRT Team
Leaders and their assistants will travel so as to
arrive at Fort Hood, Texas by 1400 hours. Lodging will
be arranged in the military barracks at Fort Hood to
accommodate twenty (20) persons.
On February 24, 1993 the Incident Commander, the Deputy
Incident Commander, the Support Coordinator, and his
support staff will travel to the Texas State Technical
College (TSTC), Waco, Texas to set up the Command Post
(CP). Accommodations will be arranged in a Waco motel
for eleven (11) persons.
On February 24, 1993, two Communications Specialists
will assist in the set up of the CP. Once the CP has
been established, they will depart for Temple/Belton,
Texas where they will establish a radio repeater site
and be lodged in a motel. The Temple/Belton location is
equidistant between Fort Hood and Waco and the repeater
site at this location will facilitate radio
transmissions between the SRT elements at Fort Hood and
the CP at TSTC in Waco.
On February 25, 1993, the thirty-seven (37) Sector SRT
members arrive at Fort Hood, Texas by 1400 hours and
they are initially briefed by the Incident Commander
and his staff. They will be lodged in the military
barracks at Fort Hood to accommodate what is now a
group of fifty-seven (57) persons.
On February 26, 1993, thirty-four (34) ATF special
agents from the Houston, New Orleans, and Dallas
Divisions arrive at Fort Hood, Texas by 1400 hours.
These special agents represent auxiliary personnel who
will be utilized in the identification and interviewing
of detainees at the site of the warrant execution. They
will be lodged in the military barracks at Fort Hood to
accommodate what has now become a group of ninety-one
(91) persons.
On February 26, 1993, one ATF special agent/pilot and
two Texas Air National Guard pilots arrive in Waco at
TSTC with their aircraft. They are lodged in a Waco
motel and their presence increases the number of
operational personnel in Waco to fourteen (14) persons.
On February 27, 1993, the Sector SRT personnel and
other special agents assigned to the tactical operation
will practice the tactics of the warrant execution at
Fort Hood, Texas.
On February 27, 1993, two Public Information Officers
(PIO) will arrive at the CP at TSTC in Waco. They will
be lodged in Waco and will increase the number of
personnel at this location to sixteen (16) persons.
On February 27, 1993, the Project Alliance Coordinator
will arrive at the Temple/Belton, Texas location where
he will meet with the Communications Specialists,
bringing the number of operational personnel in this
location to three (3). Two (2) representatives from the
Explosives Technology Branch will arrive in Waco and
two (2) fingerprint examiners from the ATF Laboratory
will also arrive in Waco. On this date ten (10) Texas
National Guard Aviation support personnel will arrive
in Waco as well as twenty-five (25) additional AFT
special agents from the Houston and Dallas Divisions.
The total number of operational personnel lodged in
Waco this night will be one hundred-fifty (150)
persons.
On February 28, 1993, the ninety-one (91) Sector SRT
members and additional support special agents will
travel from Fort Hood, Texas to Waco, Texas to the
staging area from which point they will prepare to
execute the search warrant as outlined in Section 3A of
this plan.
B. EQUIPMENT:
The following special equipment, beyond what is
normally carried by SRT members, was authorized for
purchase during this tactical operation:
100 Flex Cuffs
250 Hospital ID Bracelets
2 Inertial Rams
1 Bolt Cutters
2 "Hooligan" pry bars, 30 inch
31 Sets of knee and elbow pads
26 Pair of Protective Goggles
3 Halon type, 13 lb, fire extinguisher
5. COMMAND AND SIGNALS:
A. COMMAND POST:
The Command Post (CP) will be physically located at the
Airport Manager's Building, immediately adjacent to the
airfield at the Texas State Technical College (TSTC),
approximately eight (8) miles north of Waco, Texas. The
CP will be the operational headquarters for the
Incident Commander, the Deputy Incident Commander, and
the Support Coordinator and his staff. (Annex G,
Reporting Instructions)
B. SIGNALS:
The CP will provide the Incident Commander with
point-to-point Coded DES communications between all
elements of the tactical operation and the National
Command Center. These communications capabilities are:
handheld radios, mobile radios, fixed site equipment,
satellite cellular communication with secure STU III
and Secure/Clear FAX. This will be accomplished
through the installation of a Motorola Micor 100 watt
repeater in the airfield control tower, an antenna
installed on top of the airfield control tower, a
portable System Saber base station and a secure STU
III telephone unit with Secure/Clear FAX capability
along with four secure point-to-point deskset
telephones. (Annex H, Common Plan)
WACO REVIEW TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Note: The three columns here have not been reformatted and therefore
are in a jumble.
Sorry!!
DATE / EVENT / REMARKS
OCT/NOV
11/3/87 VERNON WAYNE HOWELL AND SEVEN OF HIS
GROUP ARE ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED
MURDER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN RODEN.
11/4/87 HOWELL IS RELEASED ON BAIL ($50,000) AND AWAITS TRIAL.
4/25/88 A MISTRIAL IS DECLARED (JURY DEADLOCKED)
IN HOWELL'S TRIAL - HOWELL IS NOT
TRIED AGAIN. HIS SEVEN ASSOCIATES RECEIVE ACQUITTALS.
11/4/88 THE CHARGE AGAINST HOWELL IS DISMISSED.
11/7/88 THE COURT ORDERS ALL PROPERTY SEIZED
RETURNED TO HOWELL.
THIS INCLUDES A SUBSTANTIAL
NUMBER OF GUNS AND AMMUNITION.
1988-1989 GEORGE RODEN IS INCARCERATED FOR SIX MONTHS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT, AFTER HIS RELEASE, HE KILLS A MAN AND IS COMMITTED TO AN MENTAL INSTITUTION. -- THIS ALLOWS HOWELL AND HIS ASSOCIATES TO GAIN CONTROL OF MT. CARMEL.
9/90 WACO FBI RECEIVES INQUIRY ABOUT "CYRUS" PRODUCTIONS
PROMOTING "SHAM"
FBI DETERMINES "CYRUS"
MARRIAGES WITH AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS.
DISCUSSION WITH AUSA, WACO DETERMINE
PRODUCTIONS TO BE A MUSICAL GROUP
NO FEDERAL VIOLATION, INQUIRY
IS CLOSED.
LED BY KORESH.
2/27/92 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND
REGULATORY SERVICES (DPRS) VISIT THE MT.
CARMEL COMPOUND RE: ACCUSATIONS
OF CHILD ABUSE.
3/5-9/92 DAVID KORESH, AKA, VERNON WAYNE HOWELL, VISITS
THE WACO OFFICE OF THE DPRS
ATF DOES NOT LEARN OF
AND SPEAKS WITH JOYCE SPARKS
REGARDING THE CHILD ABUSE ALLEGATIONS.
THE SWAT TRAINING UNTIL AFTER
2/28/93.
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONDUCT
SWAT TRAINING NEAR "MAG BAG". DAVID KORESH,
BELIEVED TO HAVE APPROX. 80
AKA, VERNON HOWELL, REACTS BY:
1) BRINGING BACK MEMBERS FROM CALIFORNIA AND
FIREARMS, AFTER MARCH
ENGLAND; 2) MAKING LARGE PURCHASES
OF WEAPON PARTS; 3) ACQUIRING CHEMICALS 5,
AN ADDITIONAL 143 (MOSTLY
WHICH CAN BE USED TO MAKE EXPLOSIVES;
4) PURCHASING NIGHT VISION SCOPES
ASSAULT RIFLES) ARE ACQUIRED.
AND SENSORS; AND, 5) ACCUMULATING
LARGE SUPPLIES OF AMMUNITION.
4/92 WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD REPORTER MARK ENGLAND BEGINS
INVESTIGATION OF BRANCH
DAVIDIANS AFTER HEARING REPORTS
OF POSSIBLE MASS SUICIDE OVER DAVIDIAN
PASSOVER.
WACO FBI OPENS CASE ON KORESH FOR INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE.
4/6/92 TEXAS DPRS VISITS COMPOUND RE: CHILD ABUSE.
4/30/92 TEXAS DPRS VISITS THE COMPOUND REGARDING
THE CHILD ABUSE ALLEGATIONS FOR JOYCE SPARKS CONTINUES TO HAVE
THE LAST TIME AND SUBSEQUENTLY
CLOSES IT'S INQUIRY. TELEPHONE
CONTACTS WITH KORESH.
5/92 LT. COY JONES, McLENNAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONTACTED
BY UPS RE:
UPS DRIVER GILBREATH REVEALS
DELIVERY OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF
FIREARM PARTS TO THE MAG BAG. DELIVERIES MADE SINCE MARCH,1992
AMOUNTED TO APPROX. $20,000 IN
CHIEF DEPUTY WEYENBERG CALLS
SA CHARLES MEYER, AUSTIN TO REPORT UPS
CASH
INFORMATION.
FBI CONTACTS TEXAS DEPARTMENT
OF PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES,JOYCE
SPARKS TELLS FBI SHE IS AWARE OF
SPARKS, RE: FBI INVESTIGATION.
KORESH.
5/26/92 SA DAVY AGUILERA IS TOLD BY SA CHARLES
MEYER TO CONTACT CHIEF DEPUTY MEYER
ORIGINALLY TOOK CALL FROM
WEYENBERG, McLENNAN CO SHERIFF'S
OFFICE RE: UPS DELIVERIES. WEYENBERG
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT CASE IS
ASSIGNS LT GENE BARBER TO WORK
WITH AGUILERA
REFERRED TO AGUILERA BY MEYER.
6/92 JOYCE SPARKS' LAST CONTACT WITH DAVID KORESH.
FBI CLOSES INVESTIGATION OF KORESH FOR INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE.
6/4/92 AGUILERA MEETS FIRST W/AUSA BILL JOHNSTON,
THEN WITH BARBER. BARBER SHARES
BARBER DESCRIBES
HISTORY OF BRANCH DAVIDIANS,
DELINEATES NATURE AND AMOUNT OF UPS DELIVERIES
METHOD UPS DELIVERIES
TO "MAG BAG".
ARE MADE AND ABOUT A
HAND GRENADE CASING FALLING OUT
OF A DELIVERY PACKAGE.
6/9/92 AGUILERA SUBMITS INITIATING
REPORT TO HOUSTON VIA AUSTIN.
INCLUDES INFORMATION PROVIDED BY
BARBER, SKINNER AND GILBREATH
6/17/92 SAC CHOJNACKI NOTIFIES RAC LARRY SPARKS,
AUSTIN VIA HANDWRITTEN FAXED SENSITIVE CLASSIFICATION
DENOTES
NOTES, INVESTIGATION CLASSIFIED
AS SENSITIVE. INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
HEADQUARTERS MONITORING OF CASE.
6/19/92 ATF HEADQUARTERS (HQ) BECOMES
AWARE OF INVESTIGATION IN WACO.
BECOMES A HQ MONITORED CASE
(SIGNIFICANT)
7/92 TACTICAL OPERATIONS OFFICER, MARK HANDLEY RECOMMENDS
TO AGUILERA USE OF
POLE CAMERA AND PEN REGISTER
AS INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS. |
7/22/92 AGUILERA REQUESTS OPINION FROM ATF
HQ RE: EXPLOSIVE MANUFACTURING AND
AUTOMATIC WEAPONS MANUFACTURING/CONVERSION
BASED ON COMPONENTS KNOWN TO BE
IN POSSESSION OF DAVIDIANS.
7/30/92 COMPLIANCE INSPECTION OF HENRY McMAHON
BY AGUILERA AND JIM SKINNER REVEALS SKINNER FINDS COMPLIANCE
APPROX 65 LOWER RECEIVERS FOR
AR-15s MISSING McMAHON SAYS STORED AT
VIOLATIONS, BUT DOES NOT
PREACHER'S (DAVID KORESH), ADDITIONALLY
SAYS 36 FIREARMS SOLD TO
CITE, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
VERNON HOWELL. DOES NOT
ACKNOWLEDGE OR OFFER THEY ARE SAME PERSON
INVESTIGATION INTEGRITY.
8/5/92 RAC LARRY SPARKS, AUSTIN IS ADMINISTRATIVELY
REMOVED FROM AUSTIN OFFICE SPARKS IS LATER FIRED FROM
THE
FORMER RAC EARL DUNAGAN IS MADE
ACTING RAC OF AUSTIN. ATF AND HAS APPEALED
THIS ACTION.
8/8/92 SKINNER RETURNED TO MCMAHON'S
PLACE OF BUSINESS AND PROVIDES HIM WITH
INFORMATION ON PROPER RECORD
KEEPING AND FEDERAL EXCISE TAXES.
8/11/92 ATF INSTALLED POLE CAMERA, FAILED
TO GET IT TO WORK UNTIL DECEMBER 11, ATF ATTEMPTED
TWICE IN OCTOBER TO
1992.
GET THE CAMERA TO WORK.
SEPT.& CASE AGENT AGUILERA ASSIGNED
TO USSS PROTECTIVE DETAILS AT THREE WEEK
DURING USSS DETAILS HE IS UNABLE
OCT. INTERVALS.
TO PURSUE THE INVESTIGATION.
10/92 SARABYN IS TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED
TO HQ TO PREPARE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN
(SECTOR PLAN).
10/92 HARTNETT APPROVES FORWARD
OBSERVER PROGRAM.
SUBSEQUENT TRAINING OCCURS FOR
SIX TEAMS IN NOV., 1992
OCT./NOV WACO TRIB REPORTER, DARLENE McCORMICK CALLS
AUSA JOHNSTON RE: DAVIDIANS AND
1992 LEGALITY OF FIREARMS.
10/92 DUNAGAN TELLS AGUILERA TO
START WORK ON AFFIDAVIT FOR SEARCH/ARREST
WARRANTS AND RECEIVES AUTHORIZATION
TO SET UP AN U/C HOUSE.
11/92 SRTS FROM HOUSTON, DALLAS AND NEW ORLEANS MEET IN HOUSTON.
DIVISION MEETING AT HQ, DETAILS
OF INVESTIGATION AND TACTICAL PLANNING FOR
SEARCH WARRANT DISCUSSED, HARTNETT
AND CONROY WANT MORE INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION.
TOLD DIVISION CHIEFS TO SLOW
DOWN TACTICAL PLANNING....
11/2/92 ATF HQ OPINES NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO SUPPORT SEARCH WARRANT RE: EXPLOSIVE TECH PARKER, ATF HQ, RENDERS
THIS
MATERIAL LIST SUBMITTED JULY
22ND.
OPINION.
11/3/92 AGUILERA GOES TO CALIFORNIA TO INTERVIEW
ISABELLA ANDRADE, JAYLENE OJENA,
AND SAUNDRA LEAKE RECEIVES INFORMATION
FROM LAVERNE, CA PD ABOUT DAVIDIANS
LIVING IN CALIFORNIA.
11/5,6 ANDRADE AND OJENA VISIT ANDRADE
DAUGHTERS LIVING IN THE COMPOUND AND ARE
& 7/92 DEBRIEFED BY AGUILERA.
11/20/92 AUSA JOHNSTON REVIEWED PC TO DATE AND OPINES
ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR A DUNAGAN AND
SARABYN PRESENTED
HISTORICAL SEARCH WARRANT.
FACTS OF CASE.
12/4/92 HQ PERSONNEL BEGAN TO ATTEND MEETINGS
IN HOUSTON. (CHOJNACKI, ROYSTER, SARABYN WAS IN
WDC WORKING(ON NRP
CAVANAUGH, BUFORD, PETRILLI,
LATIMER, LEWIS, CARTER, HENRY, CURTIS
AT THE TIME) AND TEACHING A
WILLIAMS, LTC WALKER, DUNAGAN,
AND AGUILERA) LOGISTICS FOR OPERATION
CLASS. BUFORD SELECTED AS FOCAL
DISCUSSED, INVESTIGATIVE REQUESTS
MADE AND TACTICAL PLANNING CONTINUES.
POINT FOR SRT INVOLVEMENT.
MEDIA INTEREST IN THE DAVIDIANS
IS DISCUSSED, CHOJNACKI THINKS ATF CONTACT
AGUILERA TOLD TO CONCENTRATE ON
SHOULD BE INITIATED, CAVANAUGH
ADAMANTLY OPPOSES CONTACT. INVESTIGATION
AND ESTABLISHING PC
FOR WARRANTS. NEITHER A PEN AND
TRACE WERE USED DURING THIS
INVESTIGATION.
12/7/92 AGUILERA RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM
SPARKS RE: CHILD ABUSE. SHE PROVIDES
FLOOR PLANS OF COMPOUND.
12/9/97 SUBPOENA TO PHONE COMPANY FOR SUBSCRIBER
AND TOLL INFORMATION AND
IDENTIFICATION OF ALL TELEPHONE
NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPOUND.
TELEPHONE COMPANY COULD NOT
PROVIDE LATTER.
12/11/92 SA VIEGRA MEETS WITH TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD
TO LEARN WHAT TYPE OF MILITARY
SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO ATF.
IS TOLD BY TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD, A DRUG NEXUS
IS NECESSARY FOR NON REIMBURSABLE
NATIONAL GUARD SUPPORT.
AGUILERA LEARNS FROM SGT. HACKWORTH,
LAVERNE PD, ABOUT ROBYN, JEANINE,
DAVID AND DEBORAH BUNDS AND
MARC BREAULT.
POLE CAMERA STARTS TO WORK, BUT
IS INEFFECTIVE, BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCES
INVOLVED.
12/14/92 NATIONAL GUARD RECEIVES FAX REQUEST FROM
DUNAGAN FOR AERIAL PHOTOS OF LT. JUSTICE
NOTES LACK OF DRUG
COMPOUND AND MIL SUPPORT. DOES
NOT MENTION DRUG NEXUS. NEXUS, PHOTOS APPROVED
BY LTC.
PETIT.
12/15/92 AGUILERA CALLS BREAULT AND ASKS NOT TO SHARE
INFORMATION WITH WACO TRIBUNE
THIS IS FIRST ATF
BREAULT AGREES TO DEAL SOLELY
WITH AGUILERA.
CONTACT WITH
BREAULT. IN SPITE OF ATF REQUEST
TO STOP, HE CONTINUES HIS CONTACT
AGUILERA RECEIVES VERBAL (AND
LATER WRITTEN) OPINION FROM ATF FIREARM
WITH THE WACO TRIBUNE.
TECHNICAL BRANCH THAT THE LIST
OF THE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES SUBMITTED FOR
OPINION WERE CONSISTENT WITH
COMPONENT PARTS, WHICH IF USED TO MAKE
AN M-16 MACHINE GUN, THAT MACHINE
GUN WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO POSSESS
PARTS AND ACCESSORIES IN AND BY
THEMSELVES, ARE NOT TECHNICALLY
FIREARMS AS DEFINED BY LAW.
12/16/92 AGUILERA RECEIVES FAX FROM BREAULT, GIVES
INFORMATION RE:
BREAULT NAMES JEAN SMITH, FORMER
METHAMPHETAMINE LAB PRESENT
WHEN KORESH TOOK OVER CONTROL OF THE COMPOUND
CULT MEMBER AS BEING ABLE TO
FROM RODEN, IN APRIL, 1988.
CORROBORATE INFORMATION ON
METHAMPHETAMINE LAB.
AGUILERA AND C. WILLIAMS OVERFLY
COMPOUND IN CUSTOMS AIRCRAFT AND OBTAIN
INFRARED PHOTOS OF COMPOUND.
12/17/92 DEA NOTIFIED OF POSSIBLE DRUG NEXUS BY ATF.
12/18/92 SECOND FAX RECEIVED BY NATIONAL GUARD FROM
DUNAGAN, MENTIONS "POSSIBLY FIRST TIME DRUG NEXUS
NOTED VIA
NARCOTICS" AND ASKS FOR PHOTO
OF MAG BAG.
WRITTEN REQUEST FROM ATF.
MEETING IN HOUSTON WITS KALISTER,
LTC WALKER, CHOJANCKI, ROYSTER, SARABYN,
DECISION MADE TO INSERT SAs IN
PETRILLI, DUNAGAN, CAVANAUGH,
LATIMER, CURTIS WILLIAMS, JOHN WILLIAMS,
U/C HOUSE AND DESIGNATE TSTC
SHIDLER, HANDLEY, DIBETTA, WHITE,
TERRY ANDERSON AND AGUILERA.
AIRPORT OPS BUILDING AS ATF CP.
CONCEPT FOR TACTICAL PLAN WAS FOR
SIEGE AT THIS TIME.
12/24/92 MEETING AT HQ (HARTNETT, CONROY, GARNER,
TROY, BROWN, VITA, TATE AND TATE AND
KALISTER DO THE GENERAL
KALISTER) RE: GENERAL BRIEFING
ON CASE. VITA APPOINTED TO MONITOR THE
BRIEF.
INVESTIGATION. MENTION OF POSSIBLE
USE OF U/C HOUSE TO CORROBORATE PC AND
GATHER INTELLIGENCE FOR TACTICAL
PLAN. HARTNETT/CONROY WANT MORE PC
DEVELOPED IN CASE AND TO "SLOW"
DOWN TACTICAL OPS PLANNING.
12/27/92 MCMAHON LOSES LEASE ON PLACE OF BUSINESS AND MOVES TO FLORIDA.
12/28- MEETING IN AUSTIN. AGUILERA,
DUNAGAN, FROST, BRZOZOWSKI, LATTIMER, KING, CHOJNACKI IS OFF,
DURING THIS
30/92 PETRILLI, SARABYN, C. WILLIAMS,
BUFORD, AND CAVANAUGH WENT TO WACO TO VIEW PERIOD OF TIME. WILLIAMS
THE COMPOUND AND NEGOTIATE WITH
PEERY FOR USE OF U/C HOUSE. FOR SIEGE AGUILERA
TASKED TO
INTERVIEW BREAULT AND OTHERS WITH
MEMBER OF SRT.
12/92 KORESH OBSERVED OFF THE
COMPOUND IN DECEMBER, 1992 BY: MRS. SPOON, KORESH ALTHOUGH KORESH
REPORTED OFF
FOR JOGGING BY RESIDENCE SEVERAL TIMES; JONES,
EMPLOYEE AT STRING WORLD;
COMPOUND IN NEWS MEDIA AFTER
MONTH DONNEL, PRACO PAWN SHOP;
AND, DULACK, ELK GENERAL STORE.
DECEMBER,ONLY TWO SIGHTINGS WERE
OF
CONFIRMED, 1) AUTO REPAIR JAN. 29
DECEMBER
AND 2) VISIT TO SPOON'S
RESIDENCE, LATE DECEMBER, EARLY
JAN.
1/4/93 PAT PIAZZA, OWNER STRING WORLD
MUSIC STORE, SAID HE TALKED WITH KORESH AT PIAZZA BASES HIS RECOLLECTION
ON
LOCAL WACO DAIRY QUEEN.
DATE HE RECEIVES SPEAKERS HE AND
KORESH TALK ABOUT.
1/6/93 NATIONAL GUARD OVERFLY COMPOUND
AND MAG BAG TAKE AERIAL PHOTOS AND INFRARED
TEXAS NG UC-26 IS
IMAGING PICTURES. THERMAL IMAGING
SYSTEM PICKS UP "HOT SPOT" INSIDE
USED. FIRST FLIGHT. NO OFFICIAL
COMPOUND AND IDs THREE SENTRIES
TO REAR OF COMPOUND. INTERPRETATION
OF "HOT SPOT"
PROVIDED TO ATF BY NG.
REPORT FROM TAYLOR, ATF, EXPLOSIVES
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, (WALNUT CREEK, CA)
OPINING KORESH PURCHASING CHEMICALS
AND EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS FOR ILLEGAL
USE.
PRELIMINARY WORK ON TSTC COMMAND POST BEGINS.
1/7-9/93 AGUILERA AND BUFORD CONDUCT INTERVIEWS
OF THE BUNDS, BREAULT,ANDRADE AND PURPOSE OF INTERVIEWS TO
GAIN
OJENA.
INTELLIGENCE FOR TACTICAL
PLANNING AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO
TELEPHONE LINES, RADIO AND COMPUTERS
INSTALLED AT TSTC COMMAND POST. THIS
KORESH'S STATE OF MIND.
SITE USED BY THE U/C HOUSE AGENTS
AS OFFICE.
1/11/93 U/C HOUSE BEGINS OPERATION. O'FLAHERTY,
BRZOZOWSKI, VIEGRA, RODRIGUEZ,
BRIGANCE, SEALE, TINKER AND
BROWN STAFF THE HOUSE.
U/C HOUSE IS VISITED BY DAVIDIANS,
DAVID JONES, WAYNE MARTIN AND NEIL
SCHROEDER.
1/13/93 ATF INTERNAL MEMORANDUM REGARDING
USE OF NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL SIGNED BY
HARTNETT. THAT IS, NG PERSONNEL
AND SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT TO BE USED
AGAINST COMMON AREAS, NOT SPECIFIC
INDIVIDUALS, VEHICLES, OR AREAS.
1/14/93 SECOND NG OVERFLIGHT (RF4-C A) TAKES
OBLIQUE AERIAL PHOTOS. ALSO NG UC-26 DUNAGAN THANKS NATIONAL GUARD
FOR
OVERFLIES MAG BAG AND COMPOUND.
NUMEROUS AERIAL AND INFRARED IMAGING
ASSISTANCE SPECIFICALLY FOR
PHOTOS TAKEN AND SUBSEQUENTLY
DELIVERED TO ATF ON OR ABOUT JAN. 21, 1993.
INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION OF
PHOTOS. NATIONAL GUARD INFORMS
W.A.R. ANY INTERPRETATIONS OR
EVALUATIONS BY ANY NATIONAL GUARD
PERSONNEL WOULD BE DEEMED
UNOFFICIAL.
1/18/93 U/C AGENTS TOLD BY SPOONS, DAVIDIANS
SUSPECT OCCUPANTS OF U/C HOUSE TO BE
FBI AGENTS, THAT KORESH THOUGHT
POLICE WERE WATCHING THEM AND THAT KORESH
WAS EXPECTING A VISIT FROM THE
FBI.
1/19/93 SARABYN VISITS U/C HOUSE. HE AGREES
WITH U/C AGENTS TO DISCONTINUE
PRIOR TO SARABYN'S VISIT,
SURVEILLANCE DURING THE NIGHT
TIME HOURS. HE FURTHER CHANGED THE PRIORITY
SURVEILLANCE WAS AT 100% LEVEL.
FROM SURVEILLANCE TO INFILTRATION
OF THE COMPOUND VIA UNDERCOVER MEANS.
CHANGED TO MONITOR UNUSUAL
TEAMS TOLD NOT TO PUT EVERYTHING
IN LOGS, ONLY SIGNIFICANT THINGS.
ACTIVITY AT ALL TIMES BUT,
VISUAL SURVEILLANCE WAS LIMITED
TO DAYLIGHT HOURS.
1/21/93 POLE CAMERA REMOVED, DUE TO SECURITY
LEAK BY POWER COMPANY EMPLOYEE. NOTHING
OF EVIDENTIARY OR
INTELLIGENCE NATURE WAS GAINED
REQUEST BY LTC. WALKER/SARABYN
TO MILITARY FOR EQUIPMENT TO SUSTAIN A
FROM THIS EQUIPMENT.
SIEGE (INCLUDING SEVEN BRADLEY
FIGHTING VEHICLES) IS MADE. PLAN FOR SIEGE IS CONFIRMED BY
THIS REQUEST.
1/22/93 SA PALI CONTACTS DEA LIAISON, TO OPERATION
ALLIANCE, WILLIAM ROSSEN AND
DISCUSSES DRUG NEXUS. ROSSEN
OFFERS DEA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUSPECTED
METHAMPHETAMINE LAB AT THE COMPOUND.
1/25/93 AGUILERA AND BUFORD INTERVIEW DAVID
BLOCK. SUPPOSED TO HAVE MOST CURRENT THIS AND OTHER INFORMATION,
TO
INTELLIGENCE ON COMPOUND, HAVING
LEFT THE COMPOUND AROUND MAY, 1992. BLOCK
INCLUDE A DISCUSSION OF A
INFORMED: TOWER NOT USED FOR
SURVEILLANCE, BUT, FOR WOMEN'S SLEEPING AREA,
POSSIBLE MASS SUICIDE. PROVIDED
MEN SEGREGATED FROM WOMEN, GAVE
ROUTINE, GAVE LOCATION OF ARMORY (SAID IT
BY PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS OF FORMER
WAS LOCKED), MEN OCCASIONALLY
KEPT GUNS UNDER BED AND A FEW MEN ALLOWED TO
CULT MEMBERS LIKELY MOVES
RETAIN PRIVATE WEAPONS OF SMALL
CALIBER, KORESH OBSESSED WITH POSSIBILITY
TACTICAL PLANNERS FROM SIEGE TO
OF SIEGE, HAD VAST QUANTITY
OF FOOD (MREs), THREE .50 CALIBER WEAPONS IN
DYNAMIC ENTRY APPROACH.
COMPOUND, AND, POSSIBLE "STEN"
GUN BEING MADE IN COMPOUND.
1/27- MEETINGS IN HOUSTON. C.
WILLIAMS, LATIMER LITTLETON, PETRILLI, KING,
DURING THIS PHASE THE TACTICAL
1-29/93 WHITE, DUNNAGAN, AGUILERA, BETTERTON,
HONNYCUTT, CHOJNACKI, SARABYN, PLANNERS
BEGIN IN EARNEST TO
ROYSTER, AND MASTIN. BUFORD
PRESENTS INFORMATION GLEANED FROM INTERVIEWS.
DEVELOP AN OPERATIONAL PLAN
U/C HOUSE REPORTS NO SENTRIES
VISIBLE AND A ROUTINE WHERE MEN AND WOMEN
PREFACED ON A DYNAMIC ENTRY.
ARE SEGREGATED AND MEN AWAY
FROM GUNS. DISCUSSION OF SIEGE VS. DYNAMIC ENTRY
HELD. IT IS CONCLUDED, BASED
ON INTELLIGENCE GATHERED, TO GO WITH DYNAMIC
ENTRY. MEDIA INTEREST IN COMPOUND
DISCUSSED, MOST AGREE A MEETING WITH A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE WACO
TRIBUNE IS WARRANTED. A COIN FLIP DETERMINES
DEPUTY INCIDENT COMMANDER POSITION
FOR OPERATION. MASTIN WINS AND IS NAMED
DEPUTY. ROYSTER NO LONGER PARTICIPATES
IN SUBSEQUENT PLANNING SESSIONS.
1/27/93 SA MEDRANO IN U/C ROLE (UPS TRAINEE) VISITS MAG BAG AND COMPOUND.
1/28/93 SA ROBERT RODRIGUEZ AND SA WADE BROWN
MAKE FIRST SUSTAINED CONTACT WITH CONTACT LASTS ONE HOUR,
AND IS
COMPOUND MEMBERS, INCLUDING KORESH.
CONDUCTED OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND
BUILDINGS.
1/29/93 KORESH LEAVES COMPOUND TO PICK UP
PARTS FOR HIS CAMARO AT MICHAEL
NOT OBSERVED BY U/C SURVEILLANCE.
BARNARD'S PLACE OP BUSINESS,
PERFORMANCE AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE, AXTELL, TX.
2/1/93 SARABYN AND DUNAGAN MEET WITH
BARBARA ELMORE, WACO TRIBUNE.
APPROXIMATE DATE OF ATF ACTION
GIVEN.
ANDRADE AND OJENA VISIT ANDRADE'S
DAUGHTERS AT THE COMPOUND. THEY RETURN
TO THE COMPOUND ON THE 2ND AND
3RD. THEY ARE NOT DEBRIEFED BY ATF.
2/2/93 RODRIGUEZ GOES TO COMPOUND, BUT IS TOLD KORESH IS ILL AND TO RETURN.
OPERATION ALLIANCE SUPPORT AUTHORIZED,
BASED ON ATF SUBMISSION OF A DRUG
NEXUS PRESENTED BY SA PHIL LEWIS
AT EL PASO.
ROCHEN, DEA, OFFERS DEA CLANDESTINE CERTIFIED LABORATORY TEAM TO ATF.
2/4/93 JOINT COMMAND PLANNING SESSION
WITH CHOJNACKI, SARABYN AND REPRESENTATIVES SARABYN ANSWERS QUESTION'S
FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD, JTF-6
AND SPECIAL FORCES
REGARDING DRUG NEXUS.
2/5/93 RODRIGUEZ ATTENDS FIRST BIBLE
STUDY AT COMPOUND, INTENSE ONE ON ONE SESSION
WITH KORESH.
2/9/93 CHUCK ROCHNER, COX ENTERPRISES,
CALLS CHOJNACKI AND SAYS HE IS THE WACO ROCHNER SAYS
CHOJNACKI TOLD HIM
TRIBUNE'S LIAISON WITH ATF.
ACTION TO OCCUR 3/1/93.
CHOJNACKI MAKES REQUEST TO HQ
TO ACTIVATE THE (NRP) SECTOR PLAN.
2/11/93 BRIEFING AT HQ. INVESTIGATORS AND
TACTICAL PLANNERS BRIEF HARTNETT ET AL. SOME SAY DELAY IN THIS MEETING
PROBABLE CAUSE DISCUSSED AS
WELL AS TACTICAL PLAN IN DEPTH. CAUSED DELAY
IN THE OPERATION'S
PLANNED DATE FEB. 22, 1993.
2/12/93 BRIEFING AT HQ FOR HIGGIN'S BENEFIT.
SAME ISSUES DISCUSSED AS PREVIOUS
DAY.
AUSA's JOHNSTON AND PHINIZY AND
SA DUNAGAN MEET WITH WACO DISTRICT
WANTED TO USE WARRANT TO GET
ATTORNEY, ELIZABETH T0BIN TO
DISCUSS LOCAL ARREST WARRANT FOR KORESH FOR
KORESH AWAY FROM COMPOUND.
CHILD ABUSE.
2/16/93 HARTNETT ACTIVATES SECTOR PLAN PER ATF ORDER 3350.10
2/17/93 FOUR OF EIGHT U/C AGENTS SENT HOME
FROM U/C HOUSE. KORESH
TELLS RODRIGUEZ HE DOES
NOT LEAVE COMPOUND OFTEN.
RODRIGUEZ ATTENDS BIBLE STUDY
(2.5 HRS).
CH0JNACKI CALLS ROCHNER AND VIA
MESSAGE INVITES ROCHNER TO VIEW ATF
TRAINING AT FORT HOOD.
PALI BRIEFS TEXAS GOVERNOR'S
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE TEXAS NARCOTICS CONTROL
PROGRAM, JAMES WILLB0RN ABOUT
THE HOWELL INVESTIGATION.
2/18/93 RODRIGUEZ ATTENDS BIBLE STUDY (3 HRS)
IN COMPOUND. RODRIGUEZ
ARRANGES TO SHOOT WITH
KORESH NEXT DAY.
NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN - ATF
ORDER 3350.10 IS FORMALIZED.
2/19/93 RODRIGUEZ AND BRZOZOWSKI SHOOT WITH
KORESH IN REAR OF COMPOUND. KORESH
NOTES HE HAS OBSERVED U/C AGENTS
SHOOTING, TALKS ABOUT DROP IN SEARS.
RODRIGUEZ AND BRZOZOWSKI
TAKEN THROUGH COMPOUND BUILDING TO REAR AREA.
CURTIS WILLIAMS CANCELS U.S. CUSTOMS SUPPORT REQUEST.
2/21/93 KORESH ASKS RODRIGUEZ TO COME TO COMPOUND
TO LISTEN TO MUSIC. INVITES RODRIGUEZ AGREES
TO BEGIN BIBLE
MONDAY RODRIGUEZ TO BECOME MEMBER OF
HIS GROUP.
STUDY TO START MARCH 1, 1993.
2/22/93 AGUILERA & DUNAGAN BRIEF MCLENNAN
SHERIFF'S OFFICE RE: RAID SUPPORT
RAID DATE GIVEN AS MARCH 1, 1993.
TUESDAY REQUESTS.
DUNAGAN SAID HE CALLED ELMORE
AND TOLD HER WITH SARABYN'S PERMISSION, RAID
ELMORE SAID CALL CAME IN SOMETIME
DATE MOVED TO MARCH 1, 1993.
EARLY TO MID FEB.
THE FEMALE MINOR DECLINES TO
AGUILERA ACCOMPANIES A FEMALE
MINOR TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY T0BIN'S OFFICE
TESTIFY AGAINST KORESH, SO T0BIN
FOR INTERVIEW.
CONCLUDES STATE CANNOT PROCEED
AGAINST KORESH FOR CHILD ABUSE.
2/24/93 CH0JNACKI MEETS WITH EDITORIAL STAFF
OF WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD IN AN ATTEMPT
WED: TO DELAY PUBLICATION OF ARTICLE.
PREDDY MAKES TENTATIVE DECISION TO PRINT SERIES STARTING SATURDAY.
WITHERSPOON TELLS STAFF ABOUT
HIS "TIP" GIVING RAID DATE FOR MONDAY,
3/1/93.
BLANSETT ASSIGNS THREE REPORTERS
TO COVER ANTICIPATED RAID ON MONDAY,
3/1/93.
SARABYN TRAVELS TO FT. HOOD TO
COMMENCE SRT TRAINING FOR OPERATION. SRT
HARTNETT, AFTER BEING BRIEFED BY
LEADERS, ASSIST. TEAM LEADERS
AND FORWARD OBSERVERS PRESENT.
CH0JNACKI, AGREES TO SUNDAY RAID
DATE.
CH0JNACKI ASKS SARABYN IF RAID
COULD BE MOVED UP TO SATURDAY, IS TOLD NO,
DECISION IS MADE TO MOVE RAID
TO SUNDAY, 2/28/93.
TSTC COMMAND POST STAFF ARRIVE IN WACO AND BEGIN TO SET UP CP.
NOTIFICATIONS GO OUT TO ATF PERSONNEL,
MOVING UP REPORTING DATES TO FORT
H00D/WACO.
ATF REQUEST TO THE NATIONAL GUARD
FOR MILITARY SUPPORT IS SUBSTANTIALLY
DIFFERENT FROM THE JAN. 21 REQUEST,
ELIMINATING ITEMS NECESSARY FOR A
SIEGE, INCLUDING THE BRADLEY
FIGHTING VEHICLES.
2/25/93 SRTs ARRIVE AT FORT HOOD AND BEGIN
TRAINING:
THURS:
MAGISTRATE GREEN SIGNS AFFIDAVITS
FOR ARREST AND SEARCH WARRANTS.
WITHERSPOON TELLS MULLONY ABOUT
ATF RAID ON MT CARMEL TO OCCUR ON MARCH 1,
1993.
2/26/93 SA CUYLER PROVIDES TREASURY WITH ONE
PAGE MEMORANDUM RE: ATF'S PLANNED
FRIDAY: ACTION AGAINST THE DAVIDIANS.
TREASURY EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT
RAID, AT FIRST CANCELS RAID, THEN, AFTER
FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH HIGGINS,
RESCINDS ORDER TO CANCEL RAID.
3:OOPM - ROCHNER TELLS CH0JNACKI
ARTICLE TO COME OUT ON SATURDAY, NO
MENTION OF ATF IN ARTICLE.
A NUMBER OF CALLS ARE MADE TO
INFORM SUPPORT PEOPLE OF THE
DUNAGAN ADVISES SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AND OTHERS ABOUT NEWS ARTICLE AND THAT
CHANGE IN RAID DATE BY ATF AND
RAID IS MOVED UP TO SUNDAY MORNING,
2/28/93.
COY JONES AND GENE BARBER.
FEBRUARY 27, 1993 (SATURDAY)
1:OOAM - PEROT/GRAY GET ADVANCE PUBLICATION OF WACO TRIBUNE HERALD AND DELIVER COPY TO CHOJNACKI.
8:00AM - RODRIGUEZ JOINS CHURCH SERVICES IN COMPOUND.
??:??AM - WITHERSPOON'S INFORMANT TELLS HIM RAID CHANGED TO SUNDAY.
- WITHERSPOON CALLS BLANSETT AND SAYS INFORMANT GAVE CHANGE IN RAID DATE TO SUNDAY.
12:00N - RODRIGUEZ LEAVES COMPOUND AND
RELATES INFORMATION TO CHOJNACKI ON THE REACTION OF KORESH TO THE ARTICLE
SARABYN AND CHOJNACKI INDICATE
RODRIGUEZ OBSERVES NO OVERT CALL TO "ARMS" BY KORESH, MOREOVER, CHOJNACKI
REPORTS TO HARTNETT ONLY CONCERN
OF KORESH IS WHAT ARTICLE WILL DO TO FUND RAISING. DURING AFTERNOON
BRIEF OF CHOJNACKI, RODRIGUEZ
ONLY RECALLS CHOJNACKI ASKING IF RODRIGUEZ HAD SEEN GUNS OR PREPARATIONS.
RODRIGUEZ IN W.A.R. INTERVIEW
STATES, KORESH TOLD FOLLOWERS "THEY" WERE COMING FOR HIM AND SHOULD THIS
HAPPEN, THE FOLLOWERS SHOULD
NOT GET HYSTERICAL AND REMEMBER WHAT HE HAD TOLD THEM TO DO. CHOJNACKI
OR
SARABYN NOT TOLD THIS BY RODRIGUEZ.
- PREDDY, BLANSETT, LOTT AND
ROCHNER MEET AT PAPER TO DISCUSS WITHERSPOON'S INFORMATION. DECISION IS
MADE
TO COVER THE RAID. BLANSETTE
CHANGES THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO COVER THE RAID, FROM 3 TO 9.
- HELMSTETTER GETS FROM GLOVER RAID TO OCCUR ON SUNDAY, AND TELLS MULLONY.
3:00PM - MULLONY AND WITHERSPOON PLAY RACQUETBALL AND DISCUSS CHANGE OF RAID DATE.
- BLANSETT, LOTT, AND ROCHNER
DRIVE BY COMPOUND, ON WAY BACK TO PAPER OBSERVE HELICOPTER FLY TOWARDS
TSTC
PROCEED TO TSTC AIRPORT AND
SEE HELICOPTER AND PEOPLE, SOME IN UNIFORMS. ROCHNER THINKS STAGING AREA
FOR ATF.
5:00PM - RODRIGUEZ RE-ENTERS COMPOUND,
LISTENS TO KORESH'S ASSESSMENT OF THE WACO TRIBUNE'S ARTICLE "SINFUL
MESSIAH".
- SCHNEIDER CALLS BLANSETT AND
ASKS FOR INTERVIEW RE: NEWS ARTICLE. BLANSETT CALLS ENGLAND AND ROCHNER.
ROCHNER CALLS CHOJNACKI AND
ASKS IF SAFE TO SEND REPORTER INTO COMPOUND FOR INTERVIEW. ENGLAND DECLINES
OPPORTUNITY TO PERSONALLY INTERVIEW
KORESH OR SCHNEIDER.
- BLANSETT NOTIFIES REPORTERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS TO MEET SUNDAY AT 8:00AM AT PAPER.
7:00PM - BRIEFING FOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL AT WACO BEST WESTERN HOTEL. BRIEFING CONDUCTED BY SARABYN. |~
9:00PM - FORWARD OBSERVERS INSERTED INTO U/C HOUSE, CAVANAUGH IS INSERTED LATER
12:00MN - RODRIGUEZ EXITS COMPOUND AND RELATES
OBSERVATIONS TO SARABYN. IS TOLD BY SARABYN HE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK
INTO THE COMPOUND NEXT AM. RODRIGUEZ
IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO REENTER THE COMPOUND ON SUNDAY MORNING.
OTHER EVENTS OCCURRING ON 2/27/93 (SATURDAY)
AGENTS AT FORT HOOD CONTINUE TRAINING, ARE TOLD RAID MOVED UP TO SUNDAY....MANY READ THE ARTICLE ON THE DAVIDIANS.
ATF SUPPORT AGENTS, ARRIVE AT WACO AND ARE BRIEFED THAT
NIGHT WITH OTHER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NATIONAL GUARD, AT
THE BEST WESTERN HOTEL.
PIO WHEELER CONTACTS LOCAL DALLAS MEDIA FOR WEEKEND NUMBERS.
NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTERS PRACTICE RAID AT FORT HOOD,
THEN PROCEED TO TSTC AIRPORT AND STAGE HELICOPTERS, ARRIVING
THERE AT APPROXIMATELY 4:OOPM. (ABOUT THE TIME
BLANSETT, LOTT AND ROCHNER OBSERVE THEM)
ATF BOMB TRUCKS TRANSPORTED FROM HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND
PARKED AT THE TSTC AIRPORT COMPLEX.
RAID DAY FEB. 28. 1993 (SUNDAY)
4:30AM - REAR COVER FORWARD OBSERVER
(FO) TEAM AND COVER SRT MEMBERS DEPART FORT HOOD.
6:00AM - ATF CARAVAN DEPARTS FORT HOOD.
- REAR COVER FORWARD OBSERVER
TEAM AND COVER SRT ARRIVE TSTC COMMAND POST.
7:30AM - KWTX (MULLONY, PEELER, MCLEMORE
AND BRADFIELD) MEET AT STATION.
- ATF CONVOY ARRIVES AT BELLMEAD
CIVIC CENTER.
7:45AM - REAR COVER FORWARD OBSERVER
TEAM AND COVER SRT, LEAVE TSTC FOR HAY BARN, TRANSPORTED BY BRZOZOWSKI.
- KWTX (MULLONY AND MCLEMORE)
ARRIVE COMPOUND AREA (FR2491). PEELER IS LOST IN THE AREA OF OLD MEXIA
ROAD.
8:00AM - RODRIGUEZ ENTERS COMPOUND.
- SARABYN GIVES SHORT UPDATE
AT BELLMEAD CIVIC CENTER.
- ATF NATIONAL COMMAND CENTER
IS MANNED BY VITA/GARNER (9:00EST)
- WACO TRIB REPORTERS MEET AT
PAPER OFFICES.
8:30AM - PEELER TELLS MULLONY VIA CELLULAR
PHONE, HE CAN'T TALK TO MULLONY, SINCE HE IS TALKING TO A POSTMAN.
RAID DAY FEB. 28. 1993 (SUNDAY) CONTINUED.
- DAVID JONES RETURNS TO THE
COMPOUND AND ALERTS KORESH ABOUT RAID.
8:45AM - TRIB REPORTERS (3 CARS) ARRIVE
COMPOUND AREA. TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPHER, SANCHEZ ARRIVES TSTC AIRPORT.
8:46AM - SANCHEZ CALLS BLANSETT AND
REPORTS HELICOPTERS AND POLICE VEHICLES AT TSTC AIRPORT .
9:00AM - SARABYN RETURNS TO TSTC CP.
9:05AM - RODRIGUEZ DEPARTS COMPOUND
- RODRIGUEZ TALKS TO CAVANAUGH.
- RODRIGUEZ CALLS SARABYN, WHO
IS AT THE TSTC COMMAND POST.
- SARABYN, CHOJNACKI AND ROYSTER
DISCUSS RODRIGUEZ' INFORMATION AND DECIDE TO "GO".
- SARABYN DRIVES TO BELLMEAD
- RODRIGUEZ LEAVES U/C HOUSE
FOR TSTC COMMAND POST.
9:10AM - CHOJNACKI CALLS THE NATIONAL
COMMAND CENTER (NCC) IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND INFORMS THE OPERATION IS A
GO.
9:13AM - SANCHEZ REPORTS VEHICLES AT
TSTC WERE STARTING TO LINE UP AS IF TO MOVE.
9:25AM - SARABYN ARRIVES BELLMEAD AND
ANNOUNCES OPERATION TO PROCEED.
- ATF AGENTS BOARD THE CATTLE
TRAILERS AND PREPARE FOR THE RAID.
9:29AM - SANCHEZ REPORTS TO BLANSETT,
HELICOPTERS ON THE WAY.
9:30AM - SARABYN CALLS CAVANAUGH ON
CELLULAR PHONE AND GETS UPDATE ON COMPOUND ACTIVITY AND TELLS CAVANAUGH,
THEY
ARE ON THE WAY TO MT. CARMEL.
9:35AM - O'FLAHERTY AND BRZOZOWSKI
GO TO SPOON RESIDENCE TO SECURE.
9:41AM - SANCHEZ IS PULLED OVER BY
ATF AGENTS AFTER TRYING TO PASS THE CATTLE TRAILERS ON FR 2491. HE SEES
ATF
AGENTS AND CALLS BLANSETT TELLS
HIM THEY ARE ON THE WAY.
9:45AM - "MAG BAG" SEARCH TEAM DEPART
TSTC EN ROUTE "MAG BAG".
- MULLONY/MCLEMORE AT FR 2491
AND DOUBLE E SEE, THEN FOLLOW CATTLE TRAILERS INTO COMPOUND, STOPPING AT
BUS.
- ENGLAND AND DOE FOLLOW MULLONY/MCLEMORE
DOWN DOUBLE E ROAD, BUT PASS THE MT. CARMEL DRIVEWAY AND PARK BY
AYDELOTTE'S CAR, ON DOUBLE E
ROAD.
- WITHERSPOON ASKS O'FLAHERTY
IF HE CAN FILM FROM SPOON PROPERTY, IS TOLD NO, AS CAR WITHERSPOON ARRIVED
IN
IS BACKING OUT ONTO DOUBLE E
ROAD, THEY SEE CATTLE TRAILERS ENTER COMPOUND DRIVEWAY.
9:47AM - SARABYN AND CAVANAUGH END THEIR CELLULAR TELEPHONE CALL.
- REAR FO TEAM MOVE INTO POSITION
BEHIND COMPOUND AND ARE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN UNDER FIRE BY POSITION/S TO
THEIR LEFT.
- HELICOPTERS ARRIVE IN SIGHT OF COMPOUND AND ARE TAKEN UNDER FIRE.
- RAID BEGINS....AGENTS TAKEN
UNDER FIRE. MEDIA ON DOUBLE E ROAD ARE SHOT AT. KWTX CAMERA CREW HALF WAY
DOWN MT. CARMEL DRIVEWAY HEAR
SHOTS AND TAKE COVER BEHIND BUS, AND VIDEO RAID.
- "MAG BAG" SEARCH TEAM CALLED BACK TO TSTC.
9:48AM - 911 RECEIVES CALL FROM WAYNE
MARTIN REPORTING RAID ON MT. CARMEL.. GUNSHOTS ARE HEARD IN BACKGROUND.HE
REMAINS ON THE LINE BRIEFLY,
THEN LEAVES THE PHONE OFF HOOK.
9:52AM - 911 ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT ATF
TO REPORT OPEN LINE INTO COMPOUND. ATTEMPTS CONTINUE (19 TIMES) TO REACH
ATF. CONTACT IS FINALLY ESTABLISHED
VIA TSTC PATROLMAN "197" AT 10:20AM.
9:55AM - NCC IS NOTIFIED BY THE TSTC COMMAND POST, WARRANT EXECUTED, AGENTS RECEIVING HEAVY GUNFIRE.
- NCC NOTIFIES DADLE CONROY, WHO NOTIFIES ADLE HARTNETT, WHO NOTIFIES DIRECTOR HIGGINS.
- 911 HAS OPEN LINE INTO COMPOUND, BUT, NO ONE IS ON THE LINE. 911 CONTINUES TO HEAR GUNSHOTS.
10:02AM - CALL TO 911 IS TERMINATED BY COMPOUND.
10:03AM - 911 CALLS COMPOUND, ESTABLISHES
OPEN LINE. WAYNE MARTIN AND OTHERS CONVERSE ON SPEAKER PHONE TO LT.
LYNCH. LYNCH STARTS NEGOTIATION
WITH MARTIN.
10:15AM - DYER TAKES 12 INDIVIDUALS FROM TSTC COMMAND POST AND ATTEMPTS TO SET UP AN OUTER PERIMETER.
10:20AM - 911 MAKES CONTACT WITH ATF VIA SHERIFF'S
RADIO FREQUENCY. CHOJNACKI AND ROYSTER PARTICIPATE IN
NEGOTIATIONS FOR CEASE FIRE
THROUGH LT. LYNCH.
10:30AM - HARTNETT TELLS CONROY TO GO TO WACO.
10:34AM - KORESH CALLS 911 VIA CELLULAR PHONE.
10:40AM - KORESH'S CALL IS DISCONNECTED.
10:42AM - KORESH CALLS 911 AGAIN ON CELLULAR PHONE, TALKS TO LYNCH.
10:43AM - KORESH'S CALL DISCONNECTS.
10:46AM - SCHNEIDER CALLS 911 ON CELLULAR PHONE, TALKS TO LYNCH, KORESH GETS ON LINE THEY TALK ABOUT CEASE FIRE.
10:49AM - SCHNEIDER'S CALL DISCONNECTS.
- LYNCH PASSES TO ATF AT TSTC
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR KORESH/SCHNEIDER'S CELLULAR PHONE AND ADVISES
KORESH WANTS ATF TO CALL DIRECT.
ROYSTER PASSES TELE # TO CAVANAUGH AT U/C HOUSE.
10:59AM - ATF ESTABLISHES HARD TELEPHONE LINE
CALL INTO 911. ROYSTER AND LYNCH CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS WITH
MARTIN/SCHNEIDER FOR CEASE FIRE.
11:27AM - CAVANAUGH CALLS INTO COMPOUND VIA CELLULAR PHONE AND CONTINUES TO NEGOTIATE FOR CEASE FIRE.
11:30AM - HARTNETT ARRIVES NCC (12:30PM EASTERN TIME) AND GETS FURTHER BRIEF ON EVENTS AT WACO.
- "MAG BAG" SEARCH TEAM TOLD
TO GO TO "MAG BAG" AND SECURE PERIMETER, WERE TOLD NOT TO EXECUTE SEARCH
WARRANT.
- HARTNETT UNILATERALLY REQUESTS FBI HRT SUPPORT.
11:39AM - AGENTS START TO MOVE TO PICKUP SA KING AND OTHERS. ONLY FOUR AGENTS ARE ALLOWED TO REMOVE KING.
11:44AM - MARTIN TELLS LYNCH ATF GOT ONE WOUNDED FROM BACK OF COMPOUND BUILDING (K. KING).
11:46AM - MARTIN SAYS ATF CAN GET WOUNDED FROM FRONT OF COMPOUND.
11:54AM - AMBULANCE MOVES INTO COMPOUND TO PICK UP WOUNDED AND DEAD AGENTS.
12:01PM - ROYSTER TELLS LYNCH TWO AGENTS ON ROOF ARE DEAD.
12:12PM - ROYSTER TELLS LYNCH, "IT'S NOW A
STAND-OFF:, ALL AGENTS (WOUNDED AND DEAD) HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE
COMPOUND AND ALL OTHER AGENTS
ARE SAFE.
12:37PM - SCHNEIDER DEMANDS CONTACT WITH ATF,
JIM (CAVANAUGH), LYNCH GIVES SCHNEIDER CAVANAUGH'S CELLULAR TELEPHONE
NUMBER.
12:53PM - LYNCH CONFIRMS WITH MARTIN THAT SCHNEIDER IS TALKING WITH CAVANAUGH.
- CAVANAUGH LEAVES U/C HOUSE FOR TSTC.
- CAVANAUGH REESTABLISHES CONTACT WITH SCHNEIDER/KORESH.
2:00PM - HIGGINS ARRIVES THE NATIONAL COMMAND CENTER AND TELLS HARTNETT TO PROCEED TO WACO.
4:00PM - REAR FORWARD OBSERVER TEAM
AND COVER SRT WITH DYER, BRIGANCE AND APPELT COME UNDER FIRE WHILE MOVING
FROM THE HAY BARN TO EVACUATION
POINT. SCHROEDER KILLED, NASH ARRESTED, KENDRICK ESCAPES.
5:00PM - HARTNETT DEPARTS WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH THE FBI HOSTAGE RESPONSE TEAM (HRT).
5:30PM - FBI SAC JAMAR ARRIVES TSTC ATF COMMAND POST.
- ROYSTER CONDUCTS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE.
8:30PM - CONROY ARRIVES TSTC COMMAND POST.
10:00PM - HARTNETT ARRIVES TSTC AIRPORT VIA
FBI HRT PLANE.
MARCH 1, 1993 (MONDAY)
1:00AM - HARTNETT AND CONROY ARE TAKEN TO THEIR HOTEL.
6:00AM - HARTNETT ADVISED BY TREASURY, FBI, HRT TO ASSUME CONTROL OF OPERATION.
10:00AM - MEETING WITH NONPOSTED ATF AGENTS,
HARTNETT INFORMS THEM FBI TO BE IN CHARGE.
ATF Advisory
to
Treasury Office of Enforcement
TREASURY INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM.
Subject: ATF Special Operation
Date: 26-Feb-1993 02:27pm EST
From: Christopher Cuyler
CUYLERC
Dept: Asst Sec Enforcement
Tel No:
( LANGAN )
TO: Michael D. Langan
Mike, be advised that ATF will be executing both arrest warrants and
search warrants
on Sunday, February 28, 1993, at the compound of the Branch Davidian
Seventh-day
Adventists, a religious cult near Waco, Texas. The leader of this cult
is Vernon
Wayne Howell and they are housed on a 70 acre compound in rural Waco.
It is believed
there are approximately 75 people (men, women and children) currently
on the
compound.
ATF has an arrest warrant for Howell and search warrants for the main
compound and a
second storage site about two miles from the compound. Howell has a
history of
violence and has been acquitted of attempted murder in the past. Members
of this
cult come from all over the world and it is believed that many are
aliens unlawfully
in this country. INS will participate in this raid.
Automatic weapons fire has been heard from this compound and ATF has
undercover
agents that have gained access to the compound. It is known that UPS
has delivered
enough firearms parts to convert 200 AR-15's (semi-auto) to M-16's
(full auto).
Howell has an unknown quantity of explosives on site and in the past
has been
involved in a shootout with a rival religious cult.
When a member joins the Branch Davidian, he turns over all possessions,
including
his wife and any daughters. Howell is the only male allowed to have
sexual relations
with any of the women, and in general the women are not allowed outside
the main
compound. Howell strips these people of all dignity and his treatment
of them is
atrocious across the board - from eating habits to sanitary depravation.
On Sunday, February 28, 1993, at 11 AM, ATF, assisted by State, local
and military
authorities, will raid this compound. Our Special Response Teams from
Houston,
Dallas and New Orleans will be used, along with a host of other law
enforcement
officers. A well-reasoned, comprehensive plan has been approved which
allows for all
contingencies. ATF's National Command Center at Bureau Headquarters
will be on-line
for this operation at 9 AM Sunday morning.
It is felt this operation will generate considerable media attention,
both locally
(Texas) and nationally. If necessary, I can be contacted over the weekend
at my
residence or on my pager (1-800-759-7243 -- PIN 595-3161).
End of message.
Mission Charter
CHARTER
POST - WACO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
Mission:
There is established a comprehensive, impartial investigation into the
planning, decisions, and related issues leading
to the events occurring in Waco, Texas, on February 28, 1993. The purpose
of this administrative inquiry is to
determine whether the procedures followed by the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms were correct and
appropriate to the law enforcement situation, whether the operational
decisions were correct based on the available
intelligence and whether the tactical planning and execution met generally
accepted law enforcement standards.
The Review will be carefully planned in order to ensure effective and
regular coordination with the criminal
investigations and prosecutions underway. The inquiry will be completed
as quickly as possible, and no later than
six months after its inception, a report will be presented to the Secretary
of Treasury and the President.
Organization:
The Review Team: The administrative investigation will be conducted
by a dedicated, full-time team of
investigators, analysts and administrative staff detailed from several
bureaus and offices within Treasury. (The
Secret Service, IRS - Criminal Investigative Division, The Customs
Service, the Office of General Counsel, and the
Office of the Inspector General). The review team will be organizationally
located within the Office of Enforcement.
The Director of the review team will be selected from outside Treasury.
He will develop the investigative plan and
supervise the day to day investigation and analysis of the events as
well as the development of the draft report.
The Review Team Director will be under the overall supervision of the
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement.
The Review Board: In order to provide effective oversight and guidance
to the administrative inquiry, an
independent Review Board will be established. It will be comprised
of a Chairman and four other members from
outside the Federal Government. The Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
will serve, ex officio, as a sixth member
of the Board. Its membership will include individuals of unparalleled
expertise, independence and integrity. It will
be responsible for two distinct roles during the pendency of the review.
First, it will provide advice and guidance
during the review process. Following the completion of the investigation,
it will provide a complete and independent
assessment
of the process and findings. Specifically the Review Board will have the following responsibilities:
1. Review the investigative plan developed by the Review Team Director
and provide guidance on its adequacy in
terms of both scope and depth.
2. Evaluate the investigative and analytical materials developed by
the Review Team throughout the investigation
and meet as a Board at the times and locations as determined by the
Review Board.
3. Provide guidance and direction to the Assistant Secretary for enforcement
(or the project review team?) including
the identification of outside experts or additional interviews which
should be undertaken to ensure a comprehensive
and balanced inquiry. Only in cases where the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement determines that such direction
may adversely affect the interests of the criminal investigation and
prosecution or the ability of the Review team
to meet the report deadlines, will such guidance not be followed.
4. Finally, the Review Board will be expected to provide the Secretary
and the President its judgment regarding
the quality of the administrative inquiry including, but not limited
to, the substance of the report, the nature of
the investigation and the procedures followed in conducting the review.
It will also concur or dissent with the
recommendations in the report and provide separate findings and conclusions
if it determines this is necessary. The
Review Board's independent assessment will be made a part of the final
report.
Expert Consultants: In order to further ensure that the Treasury Department
has the broadest available expertise
in conducting its review, outside expert consultants will be engaged
to address such areas as law enforcement
tactical operations, crisis decision making, management of law enforcement
intelligence, media relations, etc. Expert
consultants may be identified by the Review Board or the Review Team
and made available to advise both.
Concluding Guidance:
It is expected that a comprehensive, impartial Report will be completed
and delivered to the Secretary of the
Treasury and the President no later than six months after the inception
of the review. The report will analyze the
actions taken by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
from the outset of its investigation of David
Koresh and the Davidians through and including the events occurring
on February 28, 1993. The report will be
based on the interviews of participants in the events as well as independent
analysis of standard law enforcement
practices and procedures in order to determine the adequacy of ATF
training, procedures and practices. The Review
Board
will ensure that the review is unbiased, comprehensive and forthright.
If problems occur that cannot be reconciled,
it is the obligation of the Chairman of the Review Board to report
them to the Secretary. To the extent that certain
investigative paths were not followed because of potential interference
with the concurrent criminal investigations,
the final report must explain the reports shortcomings and recommend
further investigation as appropriate.