Transcript of Pre-Arrest Conversation This is the transcript of the recording of the Idaho State Patrolman giving Steele the fake news of the death of his wife and mother in law. It is very interesting and had to be highly incriminating to the jury. This is the first report that Steele had a concealed weapon permit. Thanks are extended to my colleague from afar who stayed up late to do the optical character recognition for me. I will continue to post corrected versions as they are available. ======== http://steelewentcrazy.org/steele/arrest/arrest.pdf (UI) denotes "unintelligible" Date of transcription 10/01/2010 The following is a partial verbatim transcription of a conversation between Edgar Steele (Steele), Special Agent (SA) Michael `P. Sotka (SA Sotka), and Idaho State Troopers Jess Spike (Spike), and Holly Branch (Branch} on June 11, 2010. It should be noted that the recording has intermittent blank spots. Investigation on 06/11/2010 at Coeur d'A1ene. Idaho Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 2 (Starting at 11:50) (Sound of truck) Branch: Big ole' trailer. Spike: . This is quite a spread he's got here. Beautiful. What we're gonna do is walk him up to the porch. Branch: Yea. (UI) Spike: Yep. Steele: Well I decided you guys were gonna serve a summons on me. But I've never seen such a show of force. Spike: No, this, this, no... (Background talk on police radio) Spike: ...this wou1dn't be for that. Steele: Sorry I can't hear, I called your office an confirmed chan they had dispatched somebody. Spike: Oh yeah. Steele: ‘Cause I, you got a...what‘s going on? Spike: why don't we, can we head up on the porch and have a seat up there? Steele: What's going on? Spike: Why don't you head up on the porch and have a seat up here. Steele: I don't like the feeling of this. (Sound of footsteps) Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 3 Spike: Go ahead and have a seat. Edgar, is your wife Cindy? Have a seat. (UI) early this morning... Steele: Is she all right? Spike: ...she was killed. (Squeaking noise) · Spike: We don't know a lot of details of the crash... Steele: Oh, come on. Are you serious, is this, are, is this confirmed? Spike: It's confirmed. Oregon State Police contacted us about an hour ago and asked us to make the notification. From what we understand she was drivin' a vehicle that was registered to you. Would that be correct? Steele; Yeah. Mitsubishi, a Black Endeavor. Spike: 'Kay. Steele: Oh, Jesus, (UI) Spike: Do you have any weapons on your person at all today? The only reason I'm askin‘ is that I know you have a concealed weapons permit and I just wanna make sure you're not gonna hurt yourself or anything like that. Do you know anything about what she was doin' this morning, or...? Is there anyone I can call for ya? Steele: Nah. (Background talk on police radio) Steele: I‘m sorry, I'll get it together here in a minute. Spike: You're, whenever you’re ready, sir. Steele: .0h Jesus Fucking Christ! when did this happen? Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 4 Spike: We're not sure an exact time. We got a call about an hour ago and it takes us a little time to assimilate our people and make a notification. That's why, didn't wanna do it over the phone, sir. (skip) Spike: (UI) Steele: (UI) deal with her mother over there. She takes her mother to the doctor all the time. A little early for. And I have a granddaughter there with a daughter that babysits. Spike: The, then information that I have this morning. (skip) Steele: So you know where this happened? Spike: Yeah. Steele: Who would I call there? (skip) SA Sotka: ...my name is Mike Sotka and I'm with the FBI, and I know you probably don't (skip) but obviously with who you are and the things you've written, a lot of people that hate you. Steele" Yes there are. SA Sotka: and a lot of people that would probably like to get back at you or your family, whatever that might be. Steele: (UI) Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 5 SA Sotka: Yeah, it's not too hard, in the middle of nowhere. But, um,.. Steele: They could just walk up to your door and pop me. I figured it was probably gonna happen someday, actually. SA Sotka: Well, the, um, sometimes the easiest way to get to one of us is to, you know get to somebody else that's close to us and make a message. So, um...(Skip} Steele: ...exactly the way I do, SA Sotka: Yeah, and maybe if you and I sat down and talked about that would be the case. I'm just sayin', it's a hate crime against you just like it‘s a hate crime against somebody else if that's what was done. Um, the details were... Steele: I'm not, 1'm not a member of a protected class is the only problem. SA Sozka: Um... Steele: It's not a hate crime against white (UI). SA Sotka: Well, what, what... Steele: [UI] SA Sotka: ...we wanna find out who did this. We have a little bit of information. There was one other car: in the general vicinity that stopped and they said that it looked like your wife was veering or run off the road. Ah, the car flipped multiple times. She was not wearing her seat belt and, they believe not wearing a seat belt was probably what caused the death. I mean, if she woulda had it on she probably woulda been fine. But, um... Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 6 Steele: Well, wait a minute, is this, so you got an eye witness... SA Sotka: Who saw a car run her car... Steele: I'm not thinking real clear. SA Sotka: Take your time. Steele: Bear with me. You've got an eye witness...(Skip) SA Sotka: Uh... Steele: In fact, can I get cards from everybody here? SA Sotka: Yeah, what I'd like to do, if possible, if I could sit down with you and talk about who might want to do this to you. Do you have any...I mean, I'd like to interview you if you cou...if you're able to (skip}...find out who is involved. If that‘s possible. I don't know if you're up to that right now. Um, time is of essence... (Skip) Steele: _ Well let's start with the membership of the JDL. And then 1et‘s start, then let's follow that up with the membership of the ADL. SA Sotke: (UI) Steele: And I think the SPLC actually kind of likes me, because they...(Skip) Steele: ..and I'm friends with it‘s head. A Jew, by the way. SA Sotke: So JDC, or what was the other one? Steele: Oh, the JDL, Jewish Defense Leaéue. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 7 SA Sotka: (UI) Steele: They're based out of Nevada, I believe. SA Sotka: And the ADC, you said? Steele: ADL, the Anti-Defamation League. B'nai B'Rith. SA Sotka: I know the Southern Poverty one. Steele: Southern Poverty, I refuse to believe that they would have anything to do with it. They're, they're morons, but they’re okay. ` SA Sotka: Do you think it could be one of the top two? Steele: Nah. SA Sotka: Not really? Steele: Well, the JBL: I'll tell ya, I mean I've got recorded death threats from the ADL, from one of their thugs. SA Sotka: Recently? I probably need to get those if,.. Steele: It's been a while, no, yeah, and he's dead now too. SA Sozka: I don't think he did it. Steele: I don't think so. · SA Sotka: Um... Steele: And their head, um, Irv Rubin, was killed in prison a year or two ago. SA Sotka: But nothing...let's, let's talk about Cindy. What... Steele: The only threat I've gotten recently has been a, a, um, I'm tryin' to think of what his name is. He's actually one of the wacko white right-wingers. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 8 SA Sotka: Right—winger? Steele: Um, I've got it on my computer, I'm sure. SA Sotka: I wanna get that some time. Um, is, I mean I wanna make sure your sa... Steele: That's the only one that I've gotten in the last month or so. I've been real... SA Sotke: (UI) Steele: ...I've been real quiet the last year with my writings and I‘ve done it on purpose. SA Sotka: Kay. Um, how about Cindy? What, Does Cindy live here, does Cindy live there? What's Cindy's status? I know... Steele: She lives here. SA Sotka: Um, this is her house? Steele: Her mother has been in and out of the hospital since she went over...there's no chance this could be a mistake, right? SA Sotka: I don't think, we would all be here, especially me. If this is a mistake.(UI) (Skip) Steele: (UI) she was on her way to see a real estate broker and sign a paper. SA Sotke: When was the last time you talked to her? Steele: Last night. SA Sotka: Did she say anything about seeing a real estate broker or...? Steele: Well.... Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 9 Steele; And I told her to call this woman and have her come over last night or this morning. Except, her mother‘s the one that needed to sign the damn papers. SA Sotka: She have a house or somethin' she's gettin' rid of? Steele: Yeah. It's up for sale. SA Sotka: Are they movin‘ back here then or is it, is that the plan? Or what would the plan have been? ` Steele: Oh, to get her mother into an apartment there nearby and get her well enough so that she could then be on her own again and... SA Sotka; um... Steele: Her mother doesn't knew about this yet. SA Sotka: When was the last time she was here? I mean was it recent or has it been a long time she has been with her mom. Has it been days, weeks, months, years? Steele: About a week ago. SA Sotka: A week ago she was in town? Steele: Aha. SA Sotka: So she come back like every week? Or is it...? Steele: (UI) every couple weeks or so. SA Sotka: Every couple weeks? Steele: Couple, three weeks (UI) days. SA Sotka: Did the mom come with her? Did the mom.. Steele: Sometimes. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 10 SA Sotka: Okay, so sometimes. Steele: But she's been too frail... SA Sotka: Yeah. Steele: ...to come these last few times. SA Sotka: Um, is there any, this is a very hard question to ask at this time, but to follow up on the investigation. Is there anybody over there that she, infidelity or anything like that, that would be a possibility that somebody there found out. Like maybe the, if she is maybe the husband, if this guy's the husband the wife might be ticked off, or something and I don't know. Spike: Is there anything that led you to believe that there was anything going on recently? SA Sotka: Sometimes, you know, we've done a lot of these things and that comes up a lot in cases, you know, when somebody‘s pretty much gets murdered. And that's pretty much what it is if she was run off the road. Whether it's a unknowing motorist, drunk driver, or whatever. You know. I'm taking it by your silence there's something bothering you about that question. Something you‘ve known about? Steele: I don‘t know? SA Sotka: Okay, Steele: It‘s just, she's been over there so much. You Know she just...the thought's crossed my mind. SA Socks: It has crossed your mind. But no, no name we can go talk to? Steele No. SA Sotka: How about friends over there? Any, um, friends that she may have established over there that Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 11 we can go talk to and sea maybe if they have any clue. I mean... Steele: Well she grew up over there. SA Sotka: Oh, that's where she's from? Steele: Yeah. She's got friends over there. Uh, Karen, um, don't know what her last name is. SA Sotka: (UI) Steele: Karen, Karen is really the only... SA Sotka: Hello. this is Mike. Steele: (UI) her best friend. Spike: Okay, but you don't remember Karen‘s last name? Steele: I mean, it's, it's... Sotka: what, I'll ask. Okay. I'll call you right back. Sir, I have more bad news. Your mother—in—law was just shot. She's dead at the residence. when they went to go talk with her. There's something going on. Steele: What the Fuck! (Skip) Spike: Hang on, Sir. (Skip) SA Sotka: Okay, I'm gonna call down, (UI). Steele: I'm okay right now guys. SA Sotka: 'Kay. (UI) Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 12 Spike: Why don‘t we start with who the other family members (UI) Steele: what is this? (UI) Fuck me! Hold on, I'll be right back. (UI) (skip) spike: (UI) Steele: [UI)...I need to call my daughter, I'm scared to. Spike: Yeah, but let's just wait, okay? Steele: I want to make sure she's okay, though. Spike: Well. SA Sotka: Sir, sir. Spike: Wait right here. SA Sotka: I just, I just. Steele: I went to call my son. SA Sotka: well call in a second. There’s, there's... Steele: I've got a daughter in Texas, I wanna make sure. SA Sotka: I got some information, I wanna tell you everything. I just found out outside from, this is directly from the horse's mouth. Um, do you wanna sit down? Th, that's, there's nothing else besides what I told you injured or hurt or anything, but... Steele: (UI) SA Sotka: ...your wife, it appears from the crash... SA Sotka: I just, I just. Steele: I went to call my son. SA Sotka: well call in a second. There’s, there's... Steele: I've got a daughter in Texas, I wanna make sure. SA Sotka: I got some information, I wanna tell you everything. I just found out outside from, this is directly from the horse's mouth. Um, do you wanna sit down? Th, that's, there's nothing else besides what I told you injured or hurt or anything, but... Steele: (UI) Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 13. (Skip) SA Sotka: ...damage to another car that must of hit her car, causing her to go off the road. That car is not identified yet. Um... (skip} SA Sotka: ...m¤ther-in-law, I'm sorry. Um, based on the conversation I'm assuming she's dead. Um, I don't know if they are still treating her or whatever, but that's the case. Steele: Is that confirmed? SA Sotka: I will... Steele: because... SA Sotka: Yeah. Steele: ...if she‘s been shot, she probably saw the person. SA sotka: She might. I have no clue, I mean, between you and I... Steele: I wanna know who did this. SA Sotka: ...I don't think she made it. I mean they're tryin', what they try. You know what I mean? But I, I mean it's a bad situation. Steele: I wanna know who did ... SA Sotka: There is a vehicle, about four miles away from the residence. I have no clue if this is the vehicle involved, but there is a big irony. There is a guy who lives around here that was in the pursuit and he flipped his vehicle when they used the spike strips. He was unconscious, I don't know what his situation is, but, I d¤n't know if he's going to make it or not, they’re workin' on him right now, but I have to run the name past you. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 14 Steele: A guy from around here? SA Sotka: Sagle, Idaho. which I would assume is close enough... Steele: You gotta be shittin' me? SA Sotka: ... Last name of Fairfax. Does that name ring a bell at all? Steele: Larry Fairfax. SA Sotka; I think that‘s the first name, I can't remember it for sure. Do you know him? Steele: Yeah, he does work here. A Socks: Around your house? Steele: Outside, with the horses. (Skip) Steele; (UI) (skip) Steele: In Oregon state. SA Sotka: He's in Oregon state, I've confirmed that, and it flipped over (UI). (Skip) Steele: Obviously thexe’s a connection here. SA Sotka; I'm thinking the same thing. (UI)... Steele: Have they connected his vehicle to the ome that the eye witness saw? SA Sotke: Probably right now there is too much damage to determine any of that. I mean... Steele: But there would be a paint transfer? Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 15 SA Sotka: Right. yeah, but I... Steele: (UI) SA Sotka: I don't even know if there's, yeah, down the road, but ya know, that’s... Steele: Matches by eye we would get the color and that would be good enough for now. SA Sotka: Yeah. They might be doing that. I... Spike: Kind of hard in our position to have that information right this second. SA Sotka: Were here to make somethin'; there may be more and more before I leave, I don‘t know. Steele: What the fuck is goin' on? SA Sozke: 'Kay. I need to follow up on this Larry guy. Does he go to Oregon City a lot? Did you see him any time this past week? Steele:' I have no idea that he's ever been in Oregon City. SA Sotka: Well I want to start to investigate him a little bit. What.. Steele: Why would he be in Oregon City? SA Sotka: I don’t know that's what I want to start to investigate. What, you saw him yesterday; did you seem him before yesterday? (Skip) SA Sotka: (UI) find out his name (UI) This is my policy, I (UI)... Branch: Hello there. A1 Banks: You don't look like Ed. - Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 16 Branch: N0. Ed's a little bit busy at the moment sir, can I help ya? Banks: Yeah, I'm here to pick him up. Spike: I'll (UI), I'll talk to 'im. How‘s it goin'sir? Banks: Just fine. Spike: Uh, there's been a family matter tha: is kinda personal and until he wants any information released. Okay. you can wait, but it‘s gonna be a few minutes, so. Banks: I see. Spike: You mind,is that your van? . Banks: Yeah. Spike: Okay. Can you just wait in your van? Banks: Sure. Spike: Uh, 'til he wants to come out and talk to you? Banks: Yeah. Spike: He's not in any kind of trouble, but there's, there's been a family matter that he's been... Banks: Huh. Spike: ...notified on. Banks: I see. Spike: Okay? Banks: You guys get to notify him, huh? Spike: Yep. Banks: Well that's a bummer Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 17 Spike: Yes it is. One of the fun, fun parts of our job. Banks: Uh huh. Spike: What’s your name? Banks: Al Banks. Spike: A1 Banks, okay. Just go ahead and have a seat, okay? And we'll have him come out and talk to you. Banks: (UI) spike: Yeah, it's the air conditioner Banks: Oh, okay. Spike; It'a just the condenser. SA SOtka: Can you guys find out if he knows a Larry Fairfax? Banks: (UI) Spike: Yeah, he, he, uh, the other office: that's talkin' to him. Do you know a guy by the name of Larry Fairfax, by any chance? (UI) Banks: (UI) Larry Fairfax, no. Spike: Okay. Go ahead and have a seat; in your vehicle, it'll be a few minutes. Okay? (UI) Spike : Negative. SA Sotka: (UI) the day you picked up the trailer. Steele: (UI) Um. (UI) he or his kids have been feeding the horses now a days (UI, skipping) Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 18 SA Sotka: (U1) call and find out. Steele: (UI) custody, right? (Skip) Steele: (UI) (skip) Spike: You said that: you and Cindy spoke a fair amount. Steele: (UZ) they talked (UI) I know that (UI) SA Sotka: (UI) Steele: (UI) he asked me, however, how she was doing (UI) . SA Sotka: (UI) Steele: (UI) (Skip) SA Sotka: (UI} Do you suspect him and her (UI, skipping}? (skip) SA Sotka: (UI) and that's why we're here. Yeah. no, no, no, here's' your chance to come clean. (Skip) (UI) (Skip) Steele: (UI) SA Sotka: Okay, thanks for following your alibi. That was really good. (UI, Skipping} · Unknown female: Central, seventeen on eight. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 19 Dispatch: FS l7? Unknown female: In service channel eight area. Dispatch: 959. Spike: Watch your heed and shoulders on the way in. When you get in, slip your hands all the way down to your butt, there's a space for them. See that hard plastic... Branch: Patrol 46 Dispatch: (UI) Branch: Subject's in my patrol vehicle, secure. Dispatch: 959. Branch: Alec will you put 958 on the radio. Dispatch: 959. Spike: Alright, I'm going to shut my tape down. Branch: I'm keepin mine on? Spike: Yep, uh... Branch: Coeur d'Alene? spike: Yes. uh, same, same drill. Go down second door, pulling forward, ha, have you gotten your car down into the sa11y... Branch: Yeah. was there a code to get in the gate? Spike: No, just hit the button and they'll see who ya are. Just identify a male in custody... Branch: Okay. Spike: ...uh, he's cooperative, you know, whatever. Branch: Okay. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 20 Spike: 'Kay. Branch: Did we put a seatbelt on him? Spike: Yes I did. Branch: Okay. Thank you. Spike: Thank you. Branch: I think he*s gonna follow me down. (UI, radio traffic) Branch: You gonna follow me down or do you want me to go ahead and head out? SA.Sotka: I'd like to follow you down. I need to get him interviewed though, so I'm gonna have one of my guys interview him and I'm follow you down. Branch: Okay. Interview him here or there? SA Sotka: (UI) huh? Branch: You wanna interview ’im here? SA Sotka: Uh, yeah I'm gonna have him interview him here. Branch: 'Kay. You okay for a minute? Steele: Yep. Branch: What's that? Steele: (UI) Branch: Okay. We're gonna get ya outta here in just a second. Spike: (UL) 958 service on the (UI) talk to you on the radio. Branch: I don't wanna make any calls on my cell phone. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 21 Spike: Okay. Branch: That's why I did that. Just to let him know that we got him, would you call dis, he asked we to make sure you called him. So would you just call him and tell him he's in custody? Spike: Sure. Branch: Thank you. That was his concern. Spike: Okay. (Radio traffic) Branch: Thank you. Unknown Male: We have him in custody. Okay? Alrighty. (UI) Branch: I'll be transporting him down to the federal courthouse. Unknown Male: And county, uh, search warrant, are on their way up from Athol right now to do the search warrant. Alrighty, we'll do that. You bet. (Pause) Branch: Oh yeah? Make sure that Spike searched him. 'Cause I'm not sure he did. Unknown Male: Okay. Branch: I just wanna make sure of that real quick. He's been thoroughly searched? Spike: Yeah. Yep. Branch: We’re gonna take off. Spike; (UI) Branch: Okay, okay. Ready when you are? Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 22 SA Sotka: Yeah. Well, okay, okay, where do we take 'im? To Kootenai and then (UI), or...okay, okay. Call me right back. Okay, yeah. She's gonna check with (UI). If they don‘t wanna do the initial appearance today. Branch: Ch. ` SA Sotka: So we might have to that. Branch: Instead of the federal courthouse? SA Sotka:` Well it depends if they wanna do the initial today or Monday. Branch: Oh. SA Sotka: They have ta do it within twenty-four hours or a reasonable amount of time (UI). Branch: Huh? SA Sotka: So. . . Branch: (UZ) isn‘t that something. You did it right though. SA Sotka: (UI) Okay I'1l head that way. We're gonna go towards the courthouse (UI) Kootenai County Jail (UI). Branch: {UI) How are you? Unknown Male: Good, how you doin'? Branch: Good. SA Sotka: (UI) Branch; They were discussn' takin' him to Bonner County. but we're gonna head towards the federal building and they may divert us to Kootenai County Jail, so... Spike: Okay, uh, maybe another change of plan. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 23 Unknown Male: Cpatian wants a marked unit up her all day, (UI) search warrant... Branch: Oh. Unknown Male: For the Aryan Nations issue... Branch: Oh. Unknown Male: So he's thinkin' abou: havin' Jess transport and havin' you sit up here. Branch: Whatever you wanna do? ` Unknown Male: What do you prefer? Branch: Ride my horse. (Chuckles) (UI) Spike: That was not one of the choices given. Branch: (UI) ‘ Unknown Male: (UI) Branch: (UI) he messed the schedule up, he messed it all up. (UI) Unknown Male: So, um, if you gotta go to court though. You gotta be back in Coeur d'A1ene by 12:30, 12:15. It's two hours from now. So... Branch: Do what we need to do- If you need me to stay I will. Unknown Male: Why dont you have Jess transport down... Branch: ‘Kay. Unknown Male: ...and you can stay here with these guys. Branch: ‘Kay. I‘m gonna have Troupe: Spike take ya in to Coeur d'Alene, okay? Sit ya outta that car. Transcription on 06/11/2010 Page 24 Come on out. sir. Take your time. this is, I know these cars are small. Steele: (UI) hurts. Branch: I'm gonna put my hand on your head here, just so you don’t bang it, okay? A little change of plans. Mr. Steele...(Skip) Branch: (CI) Pu: him in 506‘s custody, he'll be transporting. Spike: A bit more room, but not much. (End of Recording and Transcription)