MANDAN, N.D. — More than 80 people protesting the Dakota Access pipeline were arrested Saturday during a demonstration that gathered about 300 people at a construction site in North Dakota and prompted law enforcement officers to use pepper spray. Morton County sheriff’s office spokesman Rob Keller said authorities were called at 5:20 a.m. Saturday to a pipeline construction site located about five miles from an area where protesters have been camping out for weeks near the confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers. The confrontation between officers and protesters lasted five hours.
At around 7:30 a.m. about 300 more protesters walked three miles onto private property near the pipeline west of Highway 1806, CBS affiliate KXMB reports. During that time, a group of protesters attempted to breach the police line. Morton County officials say pepper spray was then used on the protesters.
The 83 protesters were arrested there on charges including: Assault on a peace officer, reckless endangerment, engaging in a riot, criminal trespass, resisting arrest, and fleeing an officer on foot. Police say two officers were injured during the event.
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