White separatists arrested for terrorizing
By April Baumgarten
Two white separatists wielding guns while “on patrol” in Leith now sit in the Mercer County jail as they face multiple terrorizing charges.
Craig Cobb, 62, and Kynan Dutton, 29, were arrested Saturday after residents saw them walking the streets with guns. City Councilman Lee Cook and Leith supporter Gregory Bruce had traveled to the town to install video cameras looking at Cobb’s residence. Dutton and Cobb allegedly approached them with the guns. Bruce said he felt threatened and tried to get out of town as soon as possible.
Cook and Bruce called 911. Grant County Sheriff deputies later arrested the gunmen and transported them to the Mercer County Law Enforcement Center in Stanton.
Cobb and Dutton each face seven Class C felonies, five for terrorizing residents with a firearm. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and $10,000 in fines.
“All I can say is that the seven counts of terrorism are for one count for each person that was terrorized,” Bruce said. “That would be me, Mr. Lee Cook, Mrs. Miller Ferrie and the rest of the people.”
Bruce, who is the web developer for Leith’s website, said he has been asked to refrain from making editorial type comments about the situation. He also represents the city of Leith as its media relations representative.
The standoff is the boiling point of escalating events in Leith, Grant County State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz said. Cobb came to the town of 16 and slowly began buying property. He intended to take over the town and build an all-white conclave.
