CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have updated to 141 the number of people arrested when law enforcement officers evicted protesters from private property in the path of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

Donnell Hushka, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff's Department, says most of the protesters were arrested for conspiracy to endanger by fire or explosion, engaging in a riot and maintaining a public nuisance.

The nearly six-hour operation to evict the protesters began at 11:15 a.m. Thursday.

Hushka says protesters started numerous fires during the course of the day, including setting three pieces of construction equipment on fire.


8:00 AM

The chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe is condemning the removal of Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters from a camp on private land, and has vowed to continue the fight against construction of the pipeline.

On Thursday, authorities used shotgun beanbag rounds and pepper spray to oust about 200 protesters from the land owned by the pipeline's developer, Energy Transfer Partners. Officers arrested 141 people.

Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault issued a statement calling the operation "acts of violence against innocent, prayerful people."

Authorities say protesters threw rocks at officers, intimidated them with horses and set numerous fires.

Archambault said the fight against the pipeline will continue. The tribe fears it will harm their drinking water and violate sacred sites.


1:20 AM

Authorities have updated to 141 the number of people arrested when law enforcement officers evicted protesters from private property in the path of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

Donnell Hushka, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff's Department, says most of the protesters were arrested for conspiracy to endanger by fire or explosion, engaging in a riot and maintaining a public nuisance.

The nearly six-hour operation to evict the protesters began at 11:15 a.m. Thursday.

Hushka says protesters started numerous fires during the course of the day, including setting three pieces of construction equipment on fire.


12:10 AM

A months-long protest over the Dakota Access oil pipeline reached its most chaotic pitch yet when hundreds of law enforcement officers moved in to force activists off private property.

Thursday's nearly six-hour operation dramatically escalated the dispute over Native American rights and the project's environmental impact, with officers in riot gear firing bean bags and pepper spray.

At least 117 people were arrested, and no serious injuries were reported.

State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong says that among those arrested was a woman who pulled out a .38-caliber pistol and fired three times at officers, narrowly missing a sheriff's deputy. She says officers did not return fire.

Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier says the camp was cleared by nightfall.

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