St. Anthony, N.D. (KFGO) - The Cass and Morton County Sheriffs are calling the twenty-seven people arrested Monday rioters and not peaceful protesters.
Around 7 a.m., two protesters locked themselves to Dakota Access Pipeline equipment southwest of St. Anthony, N.D. Both were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, inciting a riot and criminal trespass. An additional protester was arrested for criminal trespass.
Two hours later, authorities were notified of a large convoy of around 100 vehicles was assembling south of At. Anthony on Highway 6. Law enforcement closed portions of Highway 6. Local schools were notified and put into lock-down. Authorities told the protesters to leave several times. After the crowd refused, 24 people were arrested. They have been charged with a variety of charges, including inciting a riot, engaging in a riot, and criminal trespass.
“While some would like to say this was a protest, this was not a protest, this was a riot," Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said. "When you have that many people engage in that kind of behavior, inciting others to break the law, cheering others on as they do break the law, refusing to leave when they are asked to leave, that’s not a protest…Today 27 arrests were made, not because we wanted that to happen, because those people on scene chose for that to happen.”
Laney said the riots were in contrast with other peaceful gathering at the ND State Capitol and on the Memorial Bridge between Bismarck and Mandan, Monday.
“The other thing I want people to pay attention to is how many North Dakotans are in this bunch," Laney added. "If past behavior is predicting future performance here, you’re going to find very few. These are people with an ideology and an agenda that is not from here and they’re bringing it here. What started out as a North Dakota issue, with North Dakota people and the Standing Rock tribe, has excelled well past that.”
Actress Shailene Woodley, 24, was among those arrested.
Laney is the operations chief for law enforcement dealing with the protests.
Since August, 123 people have been arrested.