On Dec. 27, 2016, five protestors were arrested for criminal trespass after violating a de-escalation agreement made between Morton County Law Enforcement and tribal leaders.
The agreement, which had been established on Dec. 4, 2016, aimed to reduce tensions surrounding the ongoing Dakota Access Pipeline protests by ensuring that protestors would stay off the Backwater Bridge and avoid instigating conflict in exchange for law enforcement stepping back from the area.
However, on this particular day, protestors violated the terms of the agreement, leading to several arrests and increased tensions at the protest site.
At around 1 p.m., a group of about 11 protestors was confronted by Morton County Sheriff's Department officers near the Cannonball River, east of Turtle Hill.
Law enforcement ordered the protestors to stay on the south side of the river, as crossing into the north side would constitute trespassing on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land. Despite repeated warnings, seven protestors crossed the river, prompting the arrest of five individuals, who were found to have outstanding warrants.
The situation escalated further at approximately 2 p.m., when about 20 protestors gathered at the Backwater Bridge.
These individuals tampered with the wire barricade and vandalized equipment, including damaging light towers and other infrastructure.
Protestors were also caught on video stealing a “No Trespassing” sign from the Department of Transportation’s barricade area.
By 3 p.m., according to the Morton County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement observed a larger group of about 80 protestors gathering at Turtle Hill, a key location near the protest site.
There, authorities overheard conflicting messages among protestors, with some advocating for a peaceful resolution while others appeared to be preparing for further escalation. This discord reflected a growing divide within the protest movement.
According to the sheriff’s office, as the afternoon wore on, tensions continued to rise.
At approximately 5:45 p.m., with a crowd of about 100 protestors at the Backwater Bridge, law enforcement responded decisively.
Fearing further escalation, including potential threats of violence, the Morton County Sheriff’s Department deployed a Bearcat armored vehicle and a SWAT team to the scene. Protestors were observed continuing to tamper with the barricade wire, while others attempted to remove the stolen "No Trespassing" sign.
Law enforcement repeatedly ordered the group to disperse and cease their actions. When protestors ignored the commands, law enforcement deployed three sponge rounds—less-than-lethal munitions—on the west side of the bridge to disperse the crowd.
By 7 p.m., most of the protestors had dispersed, though some returned intermittently throughout the evening to continue cutting the barricade wire.
Law enforcement continued to monitor the situation and respond as needed. Despite the efforts to control the unrest, the overall situation remained volatile, with tensions persisting into the night.
The arrests on December 27 brought the total number of arrests related to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests to 577 since they began.
This escalation marked a significant moment in the ongoing standoff between protestors and law enforcement, signaling that the situation was far from resolved, despite the earlier efforts to de-escalate tensions through the agreement.
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