Don,
In reading this article, it would seem that this man who wants to destroy the structures is looking for a quick high dollar sale for his otherwise less expensive land. He can't subdivide it, he can't mine it, so he wants to ruin it for everybody unless this Red Mountain group will pay his ransom. What a wonderful attitude. Just to destroy for the hell of it. Sounds like the 'punk/urban' attitude that I see so prominently displayed when I see a heavily Graffitoed railroad car. Those hangovers from the 1980's are still around. To quote the kids "He's so twentieth century".
Since he lives in Castle Rock, maybe he learned this technique from the D&RG...
Rick Steele