WSVN — Officials call them ruthless and reckless. A growing group operating under the radar and believing they’re above the law, they call themselves Sovereign Citizens, and some of these people are targeting law enforcement officers. Investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero is on the case.
The Internet is full of websites that promote a movement sweeping across the country. Followers call themselves Sovereign Citizens, and they believe the law doesn’t apply to them. They sell their own ID’s, driver’s licenses and even police badges.
Undercover BSO detective: “Here in Broward County we are seeing it, and we’re seeing a lot of it.”
This undercover Broward Sheriff’s Office detective says the anti-government groups and individuals believe they do not have to follow the law and don’t have to pay mortgages, or taxes.
Undercover BSO detective: “Their whole concept doesn’t make sense.”
The detective is part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, a group of local police and federal agents who are concerned with the growing number of people calling themselves Sovereign Citizens.
Undercover BSO detective: “Currently, the FBI does label Sovereign Citizens as the number one domestic terrorist threat here in the United States.”
Carmel Cafiero: “And getting worse?”
Undercover BSO detective: “Yes, everywhere.”
Police officers across the country have been on the front line for violent attacks by some Sovereign Citizen extremists.
911 call: “Two cops are dead. The other one’s in the ditch.”
In Arkansas, a father and son identified as Sovereign Citizens murdered two police officers during a routine traffic stop.
Eyewitness: “It was ‘pop, pop, pop, pop.’ We heard gunshots rapidly, and lots of them.”
Here in Florida, a deputy was shot in the leg last month near Orlando by a man identified as a Sovereign Citizen.
Since 2010, there have been dozens of violent incidents aimed at police officers nationwide, but authorities say it is more common for followers to be involved in activities they call “paper terrorism.”
Bailiff: “David Hall.”
Authorities in Broward are accusing David Hall of paper terrorism, which is when Sovereign Citizens file false liens, frivolous lawsuits or other legal documents to harass government officials.
David Hall: “Judge, before I answer, may I specify how I am entering the court today?”
Judge Michael Usan. “No.”
Hall filed $500,000 liens against both the judge and prosecutor involved in his 2013 traffic stop case. He also filed a $20 million lien against the Florida Highway Patrol trooper who stopped him.
He didn’t get any money, but he did get charged with three counts of filing false documents.
David Hall: “This action is being brought under color of law by a fictitious plaintiff, sir. It’s contempt of court for a fictitious plaintiff to bring an action under color of law against a natural person.”
Hall is one man, one case, but estimates put the number of Sovereign Citizens in the U.S. at 300,000 and growing. Some are even creating their own police forces.
Undercover BSO detective: “They’re walking around with badges, and they want to do what’s called common law arrests, and once they try to enforce their own laws, they’re gonna be arrested.”
Carmel Cafiero: “The detective says authorities are aware of several groups right here in Florida that are organizing their own police forces, and even their own grand juries. It is, he says, a recipe for disaster. Carmel Cafiero, 7News.”
IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR CARMEL TO INVESTIGATE:
Miami-Dade: 305-627-CLUE
Broward: 954-921-CLUE
E-mail: clue@wsvn.com
You can also send a tweet to @carmelonthecase.