A Dakota Access Pipeline protest encampment. | Wikimedia Commons / Becker1999
A Dakota Access Pipeline protest encampment. | Wikimedia Commons / Becker1999
On this day in 2017, the Dakota Access Pipeline protests reached a flashpoint in Morton County, North Dakota, when law enforcement arrested 14 demonstrators after a 10-hour standoff.
The protest, which began at 3 p.m. on Jan. 16 and lasted until 1 a.m. on Jan. 17, aimed to disrupt pipeline construction near the Backwater Bridge, located near the confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers.
In a series of confrontations that intensified through the night, protesters came within 700 feet of the pipeline's drill pad, despite warnings from law enforcement to retreat.
The demonstrations were part of a months-long campaign against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a project that has sparked opposition from environmental activists and Native American groups, particularly the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
According to the Morton County Sheriff’s Office, 14 people were arrested during this incident with charges ranging from criminal trespass to assault on a peace officer.
Three arrests occurred near the Missouri and Cannonball River confluence, and 11 others were taken into custody after engaging with police at the Backwater Bridge. Additional arrests later brought the total to 16 over two days.
During the protest, law enforcement reported finding several homemade tire-deflating devices on Highway 1806 near Huff, ND. The devices, made from 2x4 lumber with protruding nails and shards of broken glass, were believed to be intended to damage the tires of passing vehicles.
It was unclear whether the devices were meant for law enforcement vehicles or for others passing through the area.
As the protest continued, law enforcement deployed less-lethal weapons after protesters refused to leave despite repeated dispersal orders. The crowd was met with force to clear the bridge and secure access to the construction site.
Several protesters were seen cutting through security fencing and using the wire to make Frisbee-shaped projectiles, which were then reportedly thrown at officers.
At least two protesters were treated for injuries, one for a minor cut and another for the effects of pepper spray, which had been deployed during the clashes.
Rumors of a snowmobile accident involving an injured protester spread during the night, but law enforcement quickly dismissed the claims, stating no such incident had occurred.
The situation prompted an increased emergency response, including the dispatch of ambulances for those arrested and injured.
In response to rumors about military involvement, the North Dakota Army National Guard clarified that an Avenger vehicle stationed in the region was used only for surveillance.
The Guard confirmed the system, designed to track unmanned drones, was unarmed and had no capability to shoot down aircraft. Its role was limited to monitoring encampments and ensuring public safety in southern Morton County.
As of Jan. 17, law enforcement had made a total of 603 arrests related to protest activity since Aug. 10, 2016.
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