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127 arrested in Dakota Access Pipeline Protests over the weekend

Courtesy Morton County Sheriff's Department

127 people protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline were arrested over the weekend.

Of those , 126 were arrested in major demonstrations Saturday. During those events, pepper spray was used on a group of protestors. Sunday, another group blocked state highway 1806 and county road 134, using hay bales, tree stumps, logs and rocks. 1806 was later opened, but the county road remained blocked Monday morning.

"We sent officers down there to advise them that it was illegal to block the road," Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in an interview. "They would be interfering with medical services st Standing Rock. Once they realized that, they removed the blockade."

A group of protestors has set up camp on a ranch that’s on the direct path of the pipeline. That group claimed “eminent domain.” Also, a drone was shot down through what Kirchmeier described as “less than lethal force” after it allegedly endangered a helicopter flying above the protests.

"The drone came up near the helicopter on several occasions," Kirchmeier said. "From FAA rules, it's illegal for any drone to be flying around any manned aircraft."

Kirchmeier said he doesn't know if it has happened before in North Dakota, where 127 people are arrested in a protest.

"We're still dealing with that, and trying to continue talking with the protestors to try and come to a peaceful resolution," Kirchmeier said.

In a statement, Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault blamed what he called “strong arm tactics and abuses by law enforcement” for escalating the violence.  He called on the federal Department of Justice to impose an injunction on all Dakota Access Pipeline development.

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