Aryan Nations member arrested after shot fired at police

Associated Press/May 18, 2004

Longview, Wash. -- An Aryan Nations member who ran for public office last year has been arrested in southwestern Washington after a shot was fired at a police officer during a standoff.

Zachary Loren Beck is also awaiting trial on hate-crime charges in Kootenai County, Idaho.

Last fall he ran unsuccessfully for the Hayden, Idaho, City Council.

Beck was arrested Friday in Longview after a brief standoff with police at a residence, Acting Police Chief Don Barnd said Monday.

During the standoff, a bullet was fired through a window at a police officer, who was not hit, Barnd said.

As police sought cover outside the residence, a man inside "displayed a gun to our officers," Barnd said. "The man in the house waited a few minutes, then a round was fired through the window at one of our officers."

Moments after the shot was fired, Beck walked out of the home and was arrested.

Beck, 25, was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Cowlitz County Superior Court on charges of first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, felony harassment and fourth-degree assault.

He was ordered held in jail under $400,000 bond after an initial appearance before Superior Court Judge Jill Johanson.

Longview police went to the home looking for Beck after getting a report from police in nearby Kelso, who were investigating a burglary, Barnd said.

Beck moved to northern Idaho from Arizona in 2002 and lived for a time with Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler at his Hayden home, which serves as headquarters of the white supremacy group.

Last year, Beck ran for city council, while Butler ran for mayor. Both lost by wide margins in November.

On Oct. 31, Beck was arrested in Kootenai County after allegedly punching a man in the face. Authorities said the assault occurred after the man was asked if he was a Mexican. Beck was charged with felony malicious harassment, and is scheduled to stand trial June 14 in Kootenai County on that hate-crime charge.