Former West Memphis police chief warns of sovereign citizens

(WMC-TV) - Former West Memphis police chief Bob Paudert on behalf of Tennessee homeland security spoke to Memphis police officers about a potentially deadly movement, sovereign citizens.

Paudert travels throughout the U.S. and Canada speaking to law enforcement with a warning about, what he calls, a growing movement.

Paudert knows first hand how dangerous members of the so-called sovereign citizens movement can be.

In 2010, his son Brandon and fellow officer Bill Evans were shot to death by sovereign citizens after a routine traffic stop.

Paudert said the movement is so strong that some law enforcement are becoming sovereign citizens.

"They're buying that movement, buying into it, and they are giving up their career to a sovereign citizen for whatever benefit they have," he said.

Paudert said the incident in Memphis with sovereign citizen squatters taking over houses is a growing trend across the country.

Paudert said the movement is growing, and it has something to do with guns.

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