title: jury acquits leaders of oregon standoff of federal charges
text: seattle times 
  heres whats happening  seattle times environment reporter lynda mapes and times photographer alan berner are on the ground through the end of the week to report on protests of the dakota access pipeline near bismarck nd hundreds of protesters have joined the standing rock sioux tribe in their effort to block construction of the pipeline they say threatens water supplies and sacred sites on thursday protesters clashed with police officers who began to push them from land owned by the pipeline developers more than hundred people were arrested authorities said one woman allegedly fired shots at officers while being placed under arrest according to the north dakota department of emergency services read our primer on whats going on with the oil pipeline and heres what were reading about the project and the regions history heres what happened on wednesday  
  update  pm 
  more than  hours after protesters started clashing with authorities thursday the disturbance is still going no serious injuries have been reported 
  numerous lawenforcement agencies are involved in addition to the morton county sheriffs department other north dakota city and county agencies have responded as well as the highway patrol also officers from wisconsin south dakota wyoming minnesota nebraska and indiana are in the area 
  the bureau of indian affairs is here to assist tribal nations 
  the associated press captured this video footage of authorities making arrests earlier in the day 
   the associated press and lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  the morton county sheriffs department now say  people have been arrested 
  the total number of arrests has grown throughout the day since authorities began pushing protesters from private land owned by the pipeline developers 
  the department said protesters set fires to numerous vehicles three pieces of dakota access pipeline equipment and a bridge the extent of total damage was unknown protesters also reportedly threw rocks bottles logs and homemade firebombs at officers they also locked themselves to items 
  some people were arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment the department said others were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to endanger by fire or explosion engaging in a riot and maintaining a public nuisance according to the department 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  authorities operation earlier thursday to move protesters off private land which the pipeline developer owns included agencies from six states as well as from the local area 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  authorities say  people have been arrested as of  pm pst 
  donnell hushka a spokeswoman for the morton county sheriffs department said morton county will use other jails to house people 
  those who were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanors can bond out she said but those facing felonies will be held for initial court appearances 
  earlier protesters started two fires on a bridge and threw molotov cocktails at authorities according to the north dakota department of emergency services 
   the associated press and lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  near the clashing scene between protesters and authorities  which resulted in more than a dozen arrests thursday and one woman allegedly firing shots at officers  residents nearby are giving their take on the demonstration 
  ken wressler  a retired steelworker says he was glad to move back into the house in which he was born here after working in the steel mill in nearby mandan for more than  years 
  earlier thursday standing on his porch to have his morning coffee he said he doesnt much see the sense of blocking the  billion oil pipeline under construction through four states by energy transfer partners of dallas texas it cuts a swath of freshlyturned ground just a mile from his house 
  the construction is protected by razor wire on a highway overpass a reminder of the protests that have drawn international attention about a half hour from wresslers house near the standing rock sioux reservation 
  they aint bothered us here in st anthony wressler said but im afraid something is going to happen for the worst if they are not going to move and they are going to get moved he said of protesters now encamped in the path of construction he said the sheriff should have taken a stronger stance from the beginning but who knows 
  north dakota needs the pipeline he said as a former steel worker he knows the value of the oil industry 
  during the first boom in  we made tanks and more oil tanks and more tanks today what good is oil to north dakota if we cant send it somewhere what do we want to get it from the arabs we see how many problems that gave us 
  its been a good life wressler said in this faded town that used to have two schools a lumber yard grocery store and a post office the bigger town of mandan up the road sucked off the jobs and population but he values the roots he feels deep in this ground his father used to work in the shed next to his wresslers house as a blacksmith fixing farmers tools he pounded and fixed everything until they moved to throwaway scythes throwaway everything 
  wresslers red plaid flannel shirt with white plastic pearl snaps was all he needed to be comfortable on this fall morning everybody wanted an early winter the pipeline people wanted it so the indians would leave the indians wanted it so they couldnt put in the pipeline instead weve got this 
  he shook his visitors hands goodbye with a meaty hand 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  a woman allegedly fired three shots at law enforcement officers during their operation to force protesters off private land according to the north dakota department of emergency services 
  cecily fong a spokeswoman for the department said the woman was being placed under arrest when she pulled out a caliber pistol and fired narrowly missing a sheriffs deputy officers did not return fire fong said 
  it wasnt immediately clear exactly when the incident happened 
  authorities took the woman in to custody 
  popping noises that some in the crowd thought was gunfire can be heard in this facebook live video produced by atsa esha hoferer during the protests its unclear whether this video captures the shooting incident reported by police popping noises that some in the crowd thought was gunfire can be heard in this facebook live video produced by atsa esha hoferer during the dakota access pipeline protest 
  update  pm 
  a spokesman for protesters said they will continue efforts to block the project despite being forced from a camp thursday afternoon 
  cody hall says protesters likely will set up a new camp to the east on federallyowned land thats also in the path of construction 
  the main camp of the protesters is on land owned by the army corps of engineers that agency has taken no steps to evict protesters from that camp citing free speech reasons 
  thursdays eviction by authorities targeted protesters on private land owned by the pipeline developer about  law enforcement officers launched the operation midday thursday on wednesday the demonstrators refused to leave voluntarily from the camp 
  hall believes it wont be as easy to move the protesters off a new camp if its on federal land 
   the associated press 
  update  pm 
  authorities say they have ousted the protesters from a camp they had set up on land owned by the pipeline developer 
  morton county sheriff kyle kirchmeier says authorities will maintain a presence in the area to keep protesters off private land and prevent them from blocking a nearby highway 
  late in the afternoon kirchmeier said the camp was secure though officers were still dealing with some protesters in the surrounding area 
  north dakota gov jack dalrymple said the effort was wellhandled from start to finish and resulted in no serious injuries he said the protesters were given more than ample time to move on their own and that those who didnt leave voluntarily needed to be dealt with as we have 
   the associated press 
  update  pm 
  medics say they have treated a tribal member who was hit by an atv as well as tribal members who were hit by pepper spray 
  also medics said they have helped a tribal member who was hurt by a falling horse 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  an estimated  demonstrators are still at the north camp and about  more with a dozen horses are at county road  
  on that road protesters have set an area on fire near a bridge according to the morton county sheriffs office they also have burned tires on highway  the office said 
  in a prepared statement cass county sheriff paul laney said law enforcement has been very methodical in moving ahead slowly so as not to escalate the situation 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  sixteen protesters have been arrested according to the morton county sheriffs department no further details on the arrests were immediately available 
  law enforcement officials are using pepper spray beanbag shot guns concussion grenades and mace to move the demonstrators out of a camp that sits on private land they have also deployed long range acoustic devices lrad which make piercing noises 
  the dakota access pipeline purchased the private land to complete its nearly  milelong pipeline 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  protesters have set tractors on fire 
  ambulances from the standing rock tribe are standing by to help protesters hurt in the clashes with law enforcement 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm pacific time 
  a herd of buffalo was seen surging over the prairie bringing cheers from the demonstrators they flowed over the ground like fast moving water finally disappearing over the distant hills 
  meanwhile a man named tubs of northern ohio said he was maced four times and struck with a club he headed to the medical tent 
  police on allterrain vehicles are chasing demonstrators on horseback kicking up a cloud of dust a helicopter also pursued 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  alfred kills his horse  of the lakota nation said he was standing on the front lines and was shot by a bean bag from a shotgun 
  the water is everything to us i dont understand why this chaos is coming to us we all drink water he said i dont want the violence i dont want to get shot we dont know any other way we have been fighting the us government for hundreds of years 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  protesters on horseback are galloping toward the frontline of the demonstration wearing gas masks 
  they started advancing on our lines said dana yellow fat standing rock sioux tribal councilman they opened up a big gash on a man 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  police are advancing with armoredpersonnel vehicle and atvs campers are surrounded and outnumbered seven empty buses are en route while police move in 
  some protesters have locked themselves onto a pickup truck 
  you will be pepper sprayed if you do not get off of the pickup an officer said through a megaphone 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  police continue to work to clear the protesters camp on land owned by the dakota access pipeline developer 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  darryl lies from douglas north dakota said he came to the standoff because of the violation of private property rights and the use of one right to trample another is an abuse of our godgiven and our countrygiven rights 
  lies is president of the north dakota farm bureau they are using the first amendment right to trample private property rights he said 
  lies said the protests have harmed the relationship between farmers and ranchers and the tribe 
  we just want this to go away he said 
  trent loos  of loup city nebraska said the protesters crossed the line when they went onto private property 
  the sheriff has executed his rights as he should he has not caved to federal pressure he said 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  police continue to push demonstrators south down the highway toward the protesters main camp about a half mile away the frontline camp is owned by pipeline developers opponents began moving the camp there in the path of construction last weekend 
  the first arrest on thursday was made there as police encircle the camp moving closer and closer foot by foot 
  we need as much people as possible they started spraying pepper spray they are pushing tents down said devin blackcloud a standing rock tribal member no one is budging there are   people willing to be arrested 
  some campers are running police pursued 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  pm 
  police are moving protesters south on highway  over the megaphone police are saying please move to the south i am going to sound the alert tone you guys are too close to the vehicles please move  we do not want to arrest anyone we are moving forward a few feet 
  a line of demonstrators has formed facing the oncoming riot gearclad officers and their armoredpersonnel carrier police are also fanned out in the surrounding fields and many more are standing by a short distance away up the hill 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  am 
  back at the main camp south of the confrontation with police the mood is hushed subdued black smoke is still rising from the highway barricade that was set on fire the camp dogs have begun howling 
  times photographer alan berner cut his head on barbed wire during the flurry of activity earlier medics assisted and his wound was cleaned he declined stitches or staples and is headed back to the front line of demonstrations near the property owned by the pipeline developers 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  am 
  field medics have arrived to the scene of the faceoff between protesters and riot gearclad police 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  am 
  a helicopter is circling low police in armoredpersonnel carriers and in riot gear are moving in and a showdown is coming 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  am 
  police officers in riot gear ordered protesters to leave their camp erected on private property the protesters then set aflame the barricade they had built on the highway thick black smoke billowed from the blockade 
  children were being taken back to the main protester camp nearby on us army corps of engineers property bulldozers are at the ready 
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  am 
  the morton county sheriffs office has warned protesters at their new camp erected on property owned by the pipeline developers to leave  or be arrested no one is leaving demonstrators are rushing to the front line of the protest a helicopter is circling overhead 
  a police officer shouted over a megaphone over and over that protesters should take their personal belongings and leave walk to the main camp pen the road block we will not hurt you you need to come out with your hands raised come onto the road do not go into the field do not approach us with horses do not approach us with vehicles 
  protesters are locking arms praying and drumming and burning sage waiting to be arrested 
  disperse now or you will be arrested under north dakota laws police ordered as protesters sing 
  live videos from the scene show a line of officers approaching the protesters highway blockade which appeared to have been set on fire thick black smoke billowed from the barricade this is what cops are walking toward on  nodapl dapl pictwittercomfkhkrpset 
   wes enzinna wesenzinna october   
   lynda mapes seattle times environment reporter 
  update  am 
  the dakota access pipeline slicing through four states of the u s also creates smalltown divisions where some business owners near the protest camp have plenty to say on the subject they declined to give their names publicly though for fear of sending away customers 
  in the tiny town of solen which is on the standing rock sioux reservation and about a half hours drive from the protest camps some business owners are walking a difficult line 
  for instance a nonindian garage owner is married to a sioux woman who sides with the opponents  while he finds the whole controversy a nuisance 
  i think most of the people around here native and nonnative would like to see it end its a big inconvenience all the traffic the cops i am for the pipeline north dakota is an oilproducing state he said and its the safest way to transport it 
  at home the dividing line is clear she is convinced the pipeline is going to break and people are going to die he said of his wife shes got her view and ive got mine 
  up the dirt road off the main highway is the last chance saloon decorated with branding irons large longhorn cattle horns and solid advice on a bumper sticker stuck on the wall when in doubt let your horse do the talking 
  the barkeeper age  was similarly opinionated with the couple  yet circumspect 
  i wish it would end im sick of it she said pouring fresh coffee for visitors into styrofoam cups and they keep coming more and more 
  a lifelong resident of this farming hamlet she comes in to clean the bar every day for her son and mind the counter during the slow hours 
  what else am i going to do sit and look out the window i like to stay busy 
  as for the coffee it was hot fresh and free she wouldnt take payment no not from outoftown visitors 
  dont make me argue she said 
  other nearby residents fear the pipeline protests will turn violent like ken ressler of st anthony nd whos worried someone will be hurt ken ressler in st anthony nd is worried the protests will become violent alan berner  the seattle times 
  
  just outside st anthony the dakota access pipeline is in the ground  and guarded by razor wire the  billion pipeline is about  percent complete the dakota access pipeline in north dakota is more than halfway finished lynda mapes  the seattle times 
  
  update  am 
  while protests against the  billion oilpipeline project draw people from around the country the standing rock sioux and developers of the dakota access pipeline are also clashing in court here are the key legal issues  dave archambault ii chairman of the standing rock sioux tribe on oct  in washington dc where federal appealscourt judges heard his tribes argument for an emergency halt to construction of the dakota access pipeline the request was denied oct  jessica gresko the associated press file 
  
  update  am 
  morton county sheriff kyle kirchmeier and other lawenforcement officials confronted protesters at their new camp wednesday requesting that the demonstrators remove their roadblock on highway  and their camp on private property 
  the protesters refused 
  protesters escalated unlawful behavior this weekend of trespassing onto private property and establishing an encampment has forced law enforcement to respond kirchmeier said in a news release i cant stress it enough this is a public safety issue we can not have protesters blocking county roads blocking state highways or trespassing on private property 
  roy murphy  of the muckleshoot indian tribe has been at the standing rock encampment since aug  and says he is staying until the pipeline is defeated his tent shared with two others is winterized roy murphy of the muckleshoot tribe on why he is protesting with the standing rock sioux tribe against the dakota access pipeline in north dakota alan berner  the seattle times roy murphy  of the muckleshoot indian tribe arrived at the standing rock encampment on aug  he says he is staying until the pipeline is defeated lynda mapes  the seattle times 
  
  update  am 
  for the standing rock sioux tribe the battle over the dakota access pipeline recalls a bitter history the tribe does not want repeated 
  we want to protect our land and we want to protect our water said dave archambault ii tribal chairman our concerns and interests dont matter and this is how we have been treated for over  years 
  once roaming the great plains living in teepees and hunting buffalo the sioux leaders such as sitting bull red cloud and crazy horse are household names their bloodiest battles are too wounded knee custers last stand 
  the history of the sioux people and the united states is one of broken promises and seizing land for white settlement gold mining and development those lands were reserved for the indians sole use in peace treaties that were supposed to be the highest law of the land 
  read more about how the standing rock sioux tribe has lost ancestral lands in broken treaties and in theft