Oil pipeline protest turns violent in southern North Dakota

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Oil pipeline protest turns violent in southern North Dakota

James Macpherson, Associated Press

Updated 12:31 am, Sunday, September 4, 2016

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A protest of a four-state, $3.8 billion oil pipeline turned violent Saturday after tribal officials say construction crews destroyed American Indian burial and cultural sites on private land in southern North Dakota.

Morton County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donnell Preskey said four private security guards and two guard dogs were injured after several hundred protesters confronted construction crews Saturday afternoon at the site just outside the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. One of the security officers was taken to a Bismarck hospital for undisclosed injuries. The two guard dogs were taken to a Bismarck veterinary clinic, Preskey said.

Tribe spokesman Steve Sitting Bear said protesters reported that six people had been bitten by security dogs, including a young child. At least 30 people were pepper-sprayed, he said. Preskey said law enforcement authorities had no reports of protesters being injured.

There were no law enforcement personnel at the site when the incident occurred, Preskey said. The crowd disbursed when officers arrived and no one was arrested, she said.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Oil-pipeline-protest-turns-violent-in-southern-9202307.php