MANDAN, N.D. (KFGO) - Law enforcement authorities say they have received alarming information from their sources about a plan by some Dakota Access Pipeline protesters who want to provoke a confrontation with officers.
The ranks of the protestors will grow over the next several days with several thousand military veterans from across the country who have arrived to show support for the protestors.
Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney says the intelligence received is "credible". He says an element with the protest movement wants to exploit veterans with PTSD, arm them and try to trigger their PTSD and turn them agressive. Laney says that's horrible and wrong, it could be dangerous and deadly."
Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier says there's also information posted on-line that indicated "offensive action against police." He says one of the protest leaders, Wesley Clark Jr. has assured law enforcement that there is no intent to engage law enforcement or make attempts to move past the Backwater Bridge that has been blocked for more than a month.
Laney says it's up to those leaders to control the "violent elements" with the protestors.