Central ND News

On this day in 2017, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said that law enforcement had successfully restored the rule of law to the Oceti Sakowin protest camp, where demonstrators had been protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. The statement was made in a press release on February 23, 2017.

"I am hopeful that this announcement brings us closer," said Kirchmeier. "An incredibly challenging time for our citizens and law enforcement professionals. The people of Morton County are looking forward to getting back to their normal lives."

According to Sheriff Kirchmeier's February 23 statement, the clearing of the Oceti Sakowin camp marked a significant development in addressing illegal occupation and environmental concerns. The operation commenced at 10:45 a.m. and concluded with all inhabitants removed by 2:09 p.m., as reported by a North Dakota Joint Information Center press release.

During the clearance operation, law enforcement arrested 46 protesters, with 23 arrests occurring early in the process. Approximately 50 protesters initially confronted authorities; while many left voluntarily, some resisted, leading to arrests. No less-than-lethal munitions were used during the operation, reflecting what was described as a restrained approach by law enforcement.

North Dakota officials reported $38 million in expenses related to law enforcement and emergency response efforts, according to South Dakota Searchlight. The state argued that federal agencies escalated and prolonged the demonstrations while withholding resources. In contrast, the U.S. government contended that North Dakota exaggerated these costs.

MPR News reports that the Dakota Access Pipeline protests resulted in 761 arrests on charges ranging from trespassing to more serious offenses. A significant portion of those arrested were from out of state. Paul Seby, North Dakota Special Assistant Attorney General, said that the cleanup took four days and involved removing 9.8 million pounds of trash from the camp using 600 bins.