FARGO (KFGO-AM) - A federal judge expects to rule by Sept. 9 on a request by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to stop an oil pipeline under construction. The tribe is challenging the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline.
Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney is among several law enforcement officers near the area where thousands of protesters have been gathering near Cannon Ball.
“There is definitely an element in there that wants this to be a confrontation” Laney said. “They’re rhetoric is very confrontational, violent at times.”
Pipeline construction had to be halted after some protesters threw rocks and bottles and made threats to law enforcement and pipeline workers.
“When you take over somebody else’s property and block their access to it, even though you’re really nice about it, it’s still against the law” Laney said. “It’s not peaceful.”
Gov. Jack Dalrymple earlier declared a state of emergency because of the protests.
The tribe fears the pipeline will impact drinking water and disturb sacred sites.