Judge Bruce Romanick | North Dakota Courts
Judge Bruce Romanick | North Dakota Courts
On Oct. 3, 2016, Morton County officials filed felony charges of terrorizing and reckless endangerment against Mason Redwing for charging at police officers while on horseback.
Redwing, then a nineteen year old from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, charged at a police line on September 28, 2016 which had been formed to monitor a protest group that had gathered on private property near Highway 6 in Morton County.
As protestors on horseback has previously charged at members of law enforcement, officers were monitoring those on horseback during the protest. When Redwing charged towards the police line and came within twenty feet, an officer drew his shotgun, loaded with bean bag rounds, and ordered Redwing to stop. The officer did not fire his gun, and at the warning Redwing veered away.
An affidavit indicates that Redwing’s actions instilled fear for the safety of law enforcement present. Officers said Redwing had no regard for the potential terror and disruption, or potential bodily injury, when he charged on his horse towards officers.
A warrant was issued for Redwing on charges of Terrorizing and Reckless Endangerment, as well as a prior warrant for criminal trespass related to a protest on September 3.
Redwing was tried by Judge Bruce Romanick in November of 2016, who dropped all charges against him. Judge Romanick also dropped all charges of a similar nature that were made against another South Dakota native, Wanikiyewin Loud Hawk.The protests, which occurred in 2016 and 2017, “drew thousands of people to camp out” in Morton County, the Associated Press reported.
The protests during this time were against the Dakota Access Pipeline and resulted in 761 arrests, according to MPR News. Charges ranged from trespassing to more severe offenses. A significant number of those arrested were from out of state.
California resident and actress Shailene Woodley was arrested in October 2016. Other figures, including actors Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio, participated in the protests but were not arrested.
Certain days of the protests resulted in dozens of arrests, such as February 1, 2017, when 76 people were arrested after Morton County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Rob Keller said a “rogue group of protesters” had trespassed on private property.
The State of North Dakota is currently suing the federal government to “recoup $38 million it claims it spent policing the protest camps,” Source NM reported.
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