A total of 38 arrests have been made in connection with the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Morton County court documents reflect that Amy Goodman, is now facing criminal trespassing charges, Class B misdemeanor, and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. Amy Goodman is the Democracy Now! host and executive produce. She recently filmed the widely circulated video of corporate goons gassing and unleashing vicious dogs on Native American men, women and children at the site of the North Dakota oil pipeline construction site. The video also documented bite injuries and footage of dogs with human blood on their mouth and nose.
In a statement Amy Goodman said "This is an unacceptable violation of freedom of the press, I was doing my job by covering pipeline guards unleashing dogs and pepper spray on Native American protesters.”
Morton County authorities also have charged Cody Charles Hall, 39, Eagle Butte, S.D., with trespassing after identifying him from video and photos viewed by investigators, said Donnell Preskey, spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff's Office.
Hall, a protest organizer with the Red Warrior Camp, was arrested Friday afternoon after police stopped him in a vehicle with expired tabs. Hall is charged with two counts of trespassing, one a Class B misdemeanor in connection with the Sept. 3 protest. He also is charged with a Class A misdemeanor count of criminal trespass in connection with the Sept. 6 protest involving people who vandalized equipment or bound themselves to construction equipment.
Hall is expected to be in the Morton County Jail until he can see a judge on Monday, Preskey said.
No arrest warrants were issued for the corporate goons, but the AP reports that the GOP governor appointed North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board will investigate the use of force by the private contractors.
From the AP :
The confrontation last weekend between protesters and private security guards left some guards injured. Tribal officials say about 30 protesters were pepper-sprayed and some were bitten by dogs after construction workers bulldozed alleged sacred sites.
Monte Rogneby, an attorney for the North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board, says the board received complaints about use of the dogs.
He says the probe should also find out whether the private security personnel at the site are properly registered and licensed. Rogneby says the board has contacted private security firms that it believes were involved in the protest, but he would not name them.