UPDATE: 6:52 p.m.
The sheriff of the Oregon county where armed militia members have taken over a federal wildlife refuge met Thursday afternoon local time with the militia members and will meet again Friday.
Here’s the update his office tweeted after the Thursday the discussion:
Meeting now over. Plans to talk again tomorrow. Sheriff Ward called on them for a peaceful resolution. #HarneyCounty
— Harney Cty. Sheriff (@HarneyCoSheriff) January 7, 2016
The office also stated that Harney County Sheriff David Ward asked Ammon Bundy, one of the men leading the militia takeover, to leave.
Sheriff Ward asks Ammon Bundy to please leave and respect the wishes of Harney County residents.
— Harney Cty. Sheriff (@HarneyCoSheriff) January 7, 2016
His office emphasized he is seeking a “peaceful resolution” and is not there to arrest anyone in a tweet.
This meeting is called for a peaceful resolution. Sheriff Ward is NOT there to make an arrest. He’s there to ask them to leave #HarneyCounty
— Harney Cty. Sheriff (@HarneyCoSheriff) January 7, 2016
Ward had previously said those who had taken over the refuge would face charges “at some point.”
A local TV reporter tweeted a photo of the meeting:
Bundy and sheriff meet in high Oregon desert pic.twitter.com/w79c9IMdWx
— Pat Dooris (@PatDooris) January 7, 2016