Miracle Valley shootout

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The Miracle Valley Shootout was a confrontation between members of the Christ Miracle Healing Center and Church (CMHCC) and Cochise County law enforcement that occurred in Miracle Valley, Arizona, United States on October 23, 1982. A variety of incidents with law enforcement in 1982 culminated when local sheriff deputies, with backup by state law enforcement, attempted to serve bench warrants for the arrest of three members of the church.

A large group of church members confronted the officials. In the ensuing melee two church members were killed and seven law enforcement officers were injured. One church member and one law enforcement officer died later, both possibly due to injuries sustained that day.

Christ Miracle Healing Center and Church[edit]

In 1978-1979 members of the Healing Center and Church moved from Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois. In 1980 the leader of the church, Pastor Frances Thomas, relocated the church and additional members from Chicago to Miracle Valley. Thomas was one of a reported 10,000 disciples of broadcasting evangelist A. A. Allen’s Miracle Valley Bible Church (MVBC). She attempted to purchase the 2,560 acre property and its numerous buildings that were home to Allen’s MVBC. Thomas's plans were to re-establish the original bible church under her leadership. The owners at the time were prohibited from selling this property, which is situated on the south side of Arizona State Route 92 that bisects Miracle Valley. Thomas instead purchased several properties for the church's use in the subdivision along the north side of the highway across from the MVBC, including a restaurant that was converted to a church sanctuary.[1]

Thomas's church in Arizona was established as the Christ Miracle Healing Center and Church (CMHCC). It was an evangelical Christian church with an entirely African American congregation, clergy, and staff. Although independent of other denominations or groups, it was Pentecostal in teachings and outlook. Her son, William Thomas Jr., was a bishop and the church's theoretical leader.[2] Thomas stated she was a believer in faith healing and not in doctors.[3]

The church was reported by sheriff's deputies to operate services almost continuously around the clock. Special assistants or watchers in the service were observed to ensure attendees didn't fall asleep by striking people's heads with long poles. Children who were church members and attended local schools were observed by their teachers to be suffering from what appeared to be severe sleep-deprivation.[4] Local residents and relatives of church members claimed she exerted a "cult-like dominance over her followers" and described church members as having "pledged their lives in cult-like devotion to Mother Thomas".[5][6] The church denied this.

The local sheriff reported that Thomas referenced the Jim Jones massacre in Guyana, stating "if you think Jonestown was a picnic, you ain't seen nothing yet" and "we already have the punch made."[7]

Background[edit]

In 1978, the first group of members of the Healing Center and Church arrived from Mississippi began arriving in the community. Initial interactions between the existing, mostly white residents and the entirely African American church members, were peaceful and friendly. Soon after Pastor Thomas and church members from Chicago arrived in Miracle Valley, mutual distrust developed between the approximately 300 members of the church and the approximately 200 residents of this area of rural Cochise County and nearby community of Palominas.

Following one or more minor burglaries of church-members' homes, in 1980 the church established an armed security force that patrolled church properties and local roads, and established roadblocks on the state highway. Thomas's son, William Thomas Jr., who was in charge of these patrols, reportedly called them "Commandos for Christ" and "Soldiers for Jesus".[8] Patrols communicated by CB radio and used code to describe people and situations.[9]

In July, 1981 sheriff's deputies attempting to arrest a church member were surrounded by a group of church members and forced to retreat. The county sheriff's department begins integrated patrols with Department of Public Safety officers. In August, 1981 a confrontation between deputies trying to make an arrest and armed church members prompts the sheriff's department to make a massive show of force. Sheriff Judd is quoted as saying it was intended to show "no one is above the law." By autumn the situation was described by the sheriff as "a fight for control" with no end in sight; by the county supervisor "the best we can hope for is an uneasy truce"; by a sheriff's deputy as "we're outgunned and outmanned"; and by a local resident "it's going to end in death".[10]

Racial tensions and lawsuit[edit]

Racial tensions between church members, and other local residents and law enforcement, were evident in Miracle Valley. Residents noted this developed only after Thomas and her Chicago-based followers arrived, not when the early group of church members arrived in 1978-79.[11] Both church members and leaders, as well as local residents, accused the other of racism, through words, attitudes, or actions.[12]

Pastor Thomas was reported to have a distinctly hostile approach to those who were not members of CMHCC, in particular law enforcement officials, who reported she addressed them as "white boy".[13]

The regional commander of the Arizona Department of Public Safety stated that Sheriff Judd "asked the governor for a tank to go into the Valley to annihilate those niggers."[14] A federal judge ruled that the sheriff's department was riddled with racism: "It seems to me that everyone in Cochise County was going to get their licks against the church one way or another." [15] "Children at Play" signs were erected by the county, at the request of the church. On the signs were cartoon stereotypes of distinctly African American children. The children's clothing carried the letters "A" and "N", which Thomas interpreted as referring to "asshole" and "nigger". The signs were removed. Allegations of official racism were raised during the 1984 trial, including a flier that referred to 'blacks as "porch monkeys" 'that was pinned up on a sheriff's station bulletin board.[16][17]

Documented evidence was presented in court of students yelling "nigger" and "kill them" during the 1982 high school riot/melee.[18]

In June, 1982 the church filed a $75 million civil-rights lawsuit in federal court, naming eight county officials including Sheriff Judd. In June, 1985 it was settled out of court by church officials and Cochise County for an undisclosed amount.[19]

Negotiations[edit]

Negotiations between sheriff deputies and church leaders to effect the surrender of church members wanted for arrest were undertaken on several occasions. In one instance, the governor became directly involved. These situations arose after the deputies would try to arrest, serve warrants, or issue traffic tickets to church members who would flee into church property. Once there they would either go into hiding or church members would arrive en masse, surround, and sometimes attack the officers. At varying times church leaders intervened to either turn over the wanted persons, or they refused. At these times, under pressure from the sheriff's office and officials from the State Department of Public Safety, negotiations with church leaders were held.

Deaths of church children[edit]

In 1981 the deaths of four children of church members came to the attention of state officials. State officials said the four children, in particular 6-year old Theriel Drew who died of strangulated hernia after four days of agonized screaming, might have survived had the church members not refused to administer medical treatment, citing their belief in faith healing. Authorities tried to place other children there under state supervision.[20] In December 1981 the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled there was sufficient reason to declare the Drew children dependents of the state to ensure their proper medical care. The decision was later overturned by the Arizona Supreme Court, citing protection of religious beliefs.[21]

Sherman McCane attack[edit]

On September 7, 1981, sheriff's deputies entered church property and found a large and angry group of church-members surrounding a pick-up truck with two occupants. The crowd, estimated by the deputies to number over fifty, were waving weapons (pipes, steel rebar, clubs, pistols, and rifles) and shouting threats at the truck's occupants. One of the truck's occupants yelled racial epithets at the crowd, inflaming tempers. The deputies moved in to protect the occupants and one church member, Sherman McCane, punched one of the deputies twice.[22]

Additional deputies arrived and the pickup truck was allowed to depart before the deputies left. The County Attorney issued an arrest warrant for McCane and he was arrested on charges of assaulting an officer. He was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon, which was discovered at the time of his arrest. On September 10, two church members, William Thomas Jr. and Dorothy Collins, arrived at the Sierra Vista sheriff's substation demanding to see McCane. Collins was arrested for carrying an illegal weapon.[23]

Van explosion[edit]

On September 10, 1981, a homemade bomb accidentally detonated in a 12-passenger van as it headed on Hwy 92 from Miracle Valley towards Sierra Vista. The van was owned by a William Thomas Jr. Passenger and church member Steven Lindsey was killed instantly when the bomb detonated while on his lap. Three other passengers were injured, all of whom left the scene before law enforcement officers arrived. The highway was closed for a full day while investigations were conducted by local and federal officials. Three undetonated bombs were found in the van's remains, one with 6 sticks of dynamite, as well as batteries, fuses, and wires.[24][25]

Pastor Thomas claimed the bombs were planted by law enforcement officials. The ATF had previously inspected the church property and found a cache of dynamite, which was not illegal at the time. Records of a nearby dynamite company and newspaper articles at the time quoted unidentified sources indicated that church members bought the dynamite found in the van. Thomas stated the church members did not know how to make a bomb and that the dynamite was purchased for a church-owned mine.[26] There is no record of the church owning a mine. It was speculated that the occupants of the van were on their way to Sierra Vista to release church member Sherman McCane by blowing up vehicles as a distraction before blowing out the wall of the station where he was being held on charges of assault and carrying a concealed weapon.

Removal of children[edit]

In late 1981 Willie Triplett contacted authorities in Arizona in attempt to retrieve his four children whom had been spirited away from their Mississippi home by his daughter, Susie Mae McCane (wife of Sherman McCane). Triplett was their legal guardian and his daughter had misrepresented her guardianship and fraudulently enrolled them in the local school. The school suspended the students and several more when similar questions about their guardianship became known. The children were then home-schooled at the church.[27]

When deputies tried to enforce a court order to retrieve three of the children from the church, they were surrounded by a group of church members while the children were removed. After tense negotiations with Pastor Thomas, the children were released to the custody of their father. While retrieving Lora Triplett from her high school, church students surrounded and violently attacked the deputies. Seven were arrested. After a court hearing, Triplett was given permission to take his four children back to Mississippi. Susie Mae McCane was later charged with and acquitted of perjury regarding this matter.[28]

High school riot/melee[edit]

On April 19, 1982, police arrested a church member for assaulting a female bystander to a clash between two groups of students at the local Buena High School, church members and non-church members. The student was charged with felony assault. The next day a group of 20 church members, including both students and William Thomas Jr. (Pastor Thomas' son), reportedly entered school grounds looking for the group of white students from the previous day's altercation. Approximately 12 police and sheriff's deputies arrived. While attempting to make an arrest, they were attacked by the church members and one deputy rendered unconscious.[29][30]

William Thomas Jr. blocked police cars with his while a group of students dragged nearby motorists from their car and stole it. The deputies pursued them in a 20-mile, 100 MPH chase which ended in the church compound where a large group of church members blocked them from entering. The law enforcement officers left and obtained search warrants in search of evidence against those who became known as the "Buena Fifteen" but were dissuaded from serving them by the head of Arizona DPS and the governor's office.[31][32]

Negotiations between the church leaders and Department of Public Safety trying to resolve the issue of the church harboring the Buena Fifteen after the high school riot/melee stalemated after a week. The day after the televised hammer-throwing incident (below), Governor Bruce Babbitt intervened and persuaded Thomas to arrange for the fugitives to be turned over to police, which they were on May 1. Five were charged, and three were convicted and sentenced to, respectively, 5 years for armed robbery, 3 and a half years for aggravated assault, and 30 days for assaulting a law enforcement officer.[33][34]

Hammer throwing[edit]

On April 29, 1982, a news crew from Tucson television station KOLD-TV came to Miracle Valley in the aftermath of the high school riot/melee. One news crew was attacked by several church members throwing claw-hammers. The incident was filmed by a second news crew and broadcast nationally and internationally.[35] Five women were charged in this incident, two of whom were convicted of assault in early 1983.[36]

The shootout[edit]

On October 22, 1982, sheriff's deputies arrived on church property to serve arrest warrants to two church members, Frank Bernard and Billy Bernard.[37] An estimated 20 church members armed with sticks and guns surrounded the deputies and forced them to retreat.

That evening Sheriff Judd spoke with the head of Arizona DPS advising him he felt that a show of force was required and requested backup. The Sheriff's office held a meeting around midnight on October 22 to plan a course of action for the following morning. Their plan involved a minimum show of force - two deputies in one car - with additional backup waiting in two locations over a mile away out of sight of the compound.[38]

At approximately 7:40 on the morning of October 23, a single sheriff's car entered the compound and stopped near the intersection of Faith Ave and Honeysuckle Road, in the middle of the subdivision on the north side of the highway. There were 17 cars with 35 deputies nearby ready to provide backup. After knocking on several house doors trying to locate their targets, a car drove up and discharged angry church members. After being attacked by a man swinging a pipe in a deputy's' face, the deputies called for backup as guns appeared in windows of the houses. The police cars arrived and took positions up around the two open fields. An estimated 150 church members - men, women, and children - confronted and attacked the deputies with sticks, rocks, pipes, lumber, garden rakes, knives, and firearms.[39][40]

Shots were fired from multiple weapons.[41] William Thomas Jr. arrived and was seen unloading multiple guns from his car. One neighbor and at least one deputy, both non church members, witnessed long-barrelled guns being aimed and firing at the deputies. Deputies reported multiple bullets whizzing past them.[42]

After being attacked by multiple church members, Sheriff Deputy Ray Thatcher was confronted by William Thomas Jr. carrying a rifle. Thatcher, who was the designated SWAT sniper for the day of the shootout, fired his Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle from close range, killing William Thomas Jr. and Aruguster Tate (Thomas Jr.'s father-in-law) during the shootout. Thatcher claimed Thomas circled around him pointing a cocked rifle, possibly a Winchester Model 1894,[43] at him, while facing him, before Thatcher fired. Thatcher also claimed that Tate then stooped down and picked up Thomas's rifle and pointed it at Thatcher before he fired. Thatcher admitted to shooting both men, each of whom was struck with four bullets. Of the reported hundreds of firearms rounds fired during the shootout, the only ones reported to be from law enforcement officers were those of Deputy Townsend and a single shot from Deputy Rothrock.[44]

Multiple deputies received injuries including compound bone fractures, shattered knuckles, deep lacerations from broken glass, and wounds from shotgun pellets. In total, two church members were killed, and five deputies and two church members were hospitalized. One deputy, rookie officer Jeffrey C. Brown, would later die of injuries sustained that day.[45] One of the injured church members was rendered paraplegic when a bullet fired by another church member hit his spine, and died in 1987.[46][47]

The melee lasted an estimated 15 minutes before law enforcement officers retreated from the church compound.

Aftermath[edit]

Arizona DPS and Pima County Sheriff's deputies arrived soon after the shootout ended. The FBI later arrived on the scene to conduct the investigation at the invitation of the governor.[48]

Some church members were arrested during the shootout; others were identified by photographs taken by deputies and by a news photographer. Charges were laid against 19 church members for their alleged part in the shootout. The trial was prosecuted by a State Attorney in neighboring Pima County.[49] In February 1984 charges were dropped due to Cochise County refusing to pay for legal aid defense of the indigent defendants, claiming insufficient funds in their budget.[50] The judge ruled dismissal with prejudice, meaning the defendants could not face the same charges in future.[51][52]

Forensic Results[edit]

Tate and Thomas were each struck with four rounds from Sheriff Deputy Thatcher's weapon. Forensic analysis and expert testimony presented during the trial indicated that the fatal shots all struck the victims from the side or the rear and that it was not possible to conclude from which direction the other, non-fatal, shots were fired, or which order they were fired. The same forensic expert testified that the forensic evidence "scientifically repudiates Thatcher's accounts" of the shooting. Sheriff's deputies claimed to have seen a woman retrieving the rifle and carrying it away. The church claimed the victims were unarmed. No rifle attributable to being in the possession of the victims was found.[53][54] Attorney's for the church claimed that lie detector tests on witnesses showed they were truthful in claiming they witnessed the victims were shot in the back by the deputy.[55][56] Thatcher's actions were investigated and ruled justified by county, state, and federal investigators.[57]

Jesse Jackson[edit]

In late 1982, leader of the civil rights organization Operation PUSH, Jesse Jackson, conducted a one-day visit to Miracle Valley after the shooting. He met with the sheriff, church leaders, and others. Upon departing he reportedly announced that the two church members who had been killed were "shot in the back".[58] He claimed to have given to the government some 400 photographs of the shooting incident taken by a news photographer.[59]

Funerals for Thomas Jr. and Tate were held at the headquarters of PUSH in Chicago.[60]

Lawsuit against the church[edit]

In 1987, twenty-six former members of CVHCC sued France Thomas for $2 million, alleging she committed fraud by using their contributions to purchase property in her own name instead of the church's. The property in Miracle Valley included a large home used by Thomas and others, the church building, a store, and approximately 25 vacant lots.[61] The lawsuit was later dropped.

Church departs Miracle Valley[edit]

In the spring of 1983, church leader Frances Thomas announced the church and its members were returning to Chicago.[62] Church members reportedly left soon afterwards, some simply abandoning their homes and properties. In February, 1990 at least 36 Miracle Valley properties owned by Frances Thomas were donated to the Christ Miracle Healing Center and Church. Thomas returned to Chicago in 1983. The church was re-established on the south side of Chicago. In 1989 it attempted to relocate to suburban Markham, Illinois, before moving to Harvey, Illinois.[63] Frances died in 1995.[64]

References and bibliography[edit]

Bibliography:
• Daniel, William R.: Shootout at Miracle Valley, Wheatmark, Tucson, 2009. ISBN 978-1-60494-152-4
• Wecht, Cyril H. and Saitz, Greg: Mortal Evidence: The Forensic Evidence Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Prometheus Books, Amherst NY, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59102-485-9
References:

  1. ^ Miracle Valley - 1982 Gun Fight. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  2. ^ Uneasy peace restored I Miracle Valley, Chicago Tribune, October 25, 1982. Retrieved 2015-03-12
  3. ^ Was the land of promise bad trip for Chicagoans?, The Chicago Sun Times, September 18, 1982, Pp. 1 and 12. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  4. ^ Daniel, P. 38
  5. ^ Is There Another Jonestown Brewing at Miracle Valley?, Chicago Sun-Times article in The Montreal Gazette, October 7, 1981. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  6. ^ Racial Problems Polarize a Town, New York Times, October 11, 1981. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  7. ^ Daniel, P. 42
  8. ^ Was the land of promise bad trip for Chicagoans?, The Chicago Sun Times, September 18, 1982, Pp. 1 and 12. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  9. ^ Daniel, P. 50
  10. ^ Is There Another Jonestown Brewing at Miracle Valley?, Chicago Sun-Times article in The Montreal Gazette, October 7, 1981. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  11. ^ Racial Problems Polarize a Town, New York Times, October 11, 1981. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  12. ^ Church Members say Adios to Miracle Valley, The Courier, May 24, 1983. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  13. ^ Daniel, P.76
  14. ^ Wecht & Saitz, P.172
  15. ^ Wecht & Saitz, P.184
  16. ^ Long Awaited Miracle Valley Trial Under Way, The Courier, January 9, 1984. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  17. ^ Leonard Gordon, Arizona State University: The Sociological Expert Witness in a Case of Collective Interracial Violence, Clinical Sociology Review 1986, Volume 4, Issue 1, Article 12, P.112. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  18. ^ Leonard Gordon, Arizona State University: The Sociological Expert Witness in a Case of Collective Interracial Violence, Clinical Sociology Review 1986, Volume 4, Issue 1, Article 12, P.115. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  19. ^ Tales from the Morgue: Battle at Miracle Valley, May 4, 2012. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  20. ^ Church's dream of building oasis drys up following Oct. 23 shoot out, Ben Bradlee Jr., The Boston Globe, printed in The Courier December 19, 1982. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  21. ^ Medical Neglect on Religious Grounds in Arizona, CHILD Inc., Summer 1988. Retrieved 2015-03-14
  22. ^ Daniel, Pp. 93-94
  23. ^ Daniel, Pp. 93-94
  24. ^ Bombs Discovered In Wrecked Van, The Courier, September 11, 1981. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  25. ^ Van Explosion Kills Arizona Churchman and Injures 3 Others, New York Times, September 12, 1981. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  26. ^ Racial Problems Polarize a Town, New York Times, October 11, 1981. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  27. ^ The Miracle Valley Case, Mohave Daily Miner, January 15, 1984. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  28. ^ The Miracle Valley Case, Mohave Daily Miner, January 15, 1984. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  29. ^ Leonard Gordon, Arizona State University: The Sociological Expert Witness in a Case of Collective Interracial Violence, Clinical Sociology Review 1986, Volume 4, Issue 1, Article 12, P.119. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  30. ^ Daniel, Pp. 128-130
  31. ^ Leonard Gordon, Arizona State University: The Sociological Expert Witness in a Case of Collective Interracial Violence, Clinical Sociology Review 1986, Volume 4, Issue 1, Article 12, P.119. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  32. ^ Daniel, Pp. 128-130
  33. ^ Daniel, P. 140
  34. ^ Was the land of promise bad trip for Chicagoans?, The Chicago Sun Times, September 18, 1982, page 12. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  35. ^ Long Awaited Miracle Valley Trial Under Way, The Courier, January 9, 1984. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  36. ^ Church Members say Adios to Miracle Valley, The Courier, May 24, 1983. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  37. ^ Church-police confrontation settled, New York Times Service in The Miami News, October 25, 1982. Retrieved 2015-02-10
  38. ^ Daniel, Pp. 152-174
  39. ^ Church's dream of building oasis drys up following Oct. 23 shootout, Ben Bradlee Jr., The Boston Globe, printed in The Courier December 19, 1982. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  40. ^ Daniel, Pp. 152-174
  41. ^ Tales from the Morgue: Battle at Miracle Valley, Arizona Daily Star, May 4, 2012. Retrieved 2015-03-12
  42. ^ Daniel, Pp. 152-174
  43. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57QrPKM1B7c
  44. ^ Daniel, Pp. 152-174
  45. ^ Memorial remembers deputies who died in line of duty, Sierra Vista Herald, May 16, 2003. Retrieved 2015-03-13
  46. ^ 1982 Gun Fight, Miracle Valley. Retrieved 2015-03-13
  47. ^ Daniel, Pp. 152-174
  48. ^ Tales from the Morgue: Battle at Miracle Valley, May 4, 2012. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  49. ^ Long Awaited Miracle Valley Trial Under Way, The Courier, January 9, 1984. Retrieved 2015-03-07
  50. ^ Arizona Judge Calles Off Trial of 20 Blacks, New York Times, February 16, 1984. Retrieved 2015-05-07
  51. ^ Cochise County told to pay lawyers or lose case, The Courier, January 17, 1984. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  52. ^ Case Against Sect Dismissed, Chicago Tribune, February 23, 1984. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  53. ^ Church's dream of building oasis drys up following Oct. 23 shootout, Ben Bradlee Jr., The Boston Globe, printed in The Courier December 19, 1982. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  54. ^ Daniel, Pp. 166-168.
  55. ^ Lie detector tests show - Victims were shot in the back, AP report in The Courier, December 19, 1982. Retrieved 2015-03-09
  56. ^ Wecht & Saitz, P. 183-184
  57. ^ Thatcher ended fight at Miracle Valley, Sierra Vista Herald Review, November 24, 2008. Retrieved 2015-02-13
  58. ^ Wecht & Saitz, P. 176
  59. ^ Star begins probe of copyright abuse, The Courier, November 19, 1982. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  60. ^ 10 from religious sect indicted in fatal brawl, Chicago Tribune, October 31, 1982. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  61. ^ Former church members sue its matriarch, The Prescott Courier, February 15, 1988. Retrieved 2015-03-11
  62. ^ Black Sect Bars Return to Arizona, New York Times, June 2, 1983. Retrieved 2015-03-06
  63. ^ Group vows to sue Markham, Chicago Tribune, September 22, 1989. Retrieved 2015-03-12
  64. ^ CHMC Ministries webpage. Retrieved 2015-03-12

External links[edit]

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