MANDAN, ND (KFGO) – The Morton County Sheriff’s office says a roadblock set up by protesters on Highway 1806 was diffused after negotiations with law enforcement. Protesters set up the roadblock at around 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier says protesters strung barbed wire across Hwy 1806 and positioned cars to block the highway. Protesters then escalated their efforts and fortified their blockade activity by moving hay bales, rocks, tree stumps, logs and other items onto the roadway and into the ditch right-of-way.
Authorities say they are also monitoring more than 100 protesters who are trespassing on private property along the Dakota Access Pipeline construction route. This area is located north of the protest camp area, east of Hwy 1806. The protesters are occupying the private property and have set up at least ten tents and teepees. Reports from protesters indicated they were moving their camp to this location for the winter.
Kirchmeier also says a drone was observed “endangering” a helicopter and flying over law enforcement. The helicopter was assisting in the vicinity of Highway 1806. A sheriff on board the helicopter reported to law enforcement on the ground that the helicopter pilot and passengers were “in fear of their lives”, and that the “drone came after us.”
The helicopter pilot reported that he had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid two arrows fired by an individual on the ground. The pilot was approximately 100 feet above the ground when the incident occurred.
“Today’s protest activities near the Cannonball River protest camps were intentional, planned, coordinated and outright unlawful” Kirchmeier said. ”From halting traffic with their own roadblocks, trespassing on private property and endangering lives with illegal drones, these are the tactics of out-of-state agitators who have an agenda of causing fear, terror, and economic devastation. Once again, their tactics indicated it was not a peaceful event.”
Kirchmeier says 126 protesters were arrested for various charges including reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, engaging in a riot, assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest. Two juveniles were also taken into custody.
The following video is courtesy of the Morton County Sheriff’s Department.