By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
October 23, 2016
Mandan, N. Dakota - On Sunday, the Morton County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) reported that a drone got to close to a police surveillance helicopter and the pilot and an officer "feared for their life" and they fired upon the unmanned drone and was forced to land. But apparently, video posted on Facebook (FB) by Prolific The Rapper, it shows several ground law enforcement officers targeting the drone and discharged their weapons at it.
Prolific posted on his FB account, "Video Evidence Of Shots Fired at Native Media Drones. You can see officers discharging their firearms at the end of the video. #NoDAPL
Please contact Morton County Sheriffs office and ask them to cease and desist aggressive actions against independent media and people gathered in prayer to protect their waters. Dr0ne2bwild Photography & Video #MniWiconi"
The MCSO in a press release stated, Authorities report two documented cases where an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flew at a helicopter in a threatening manner. The helicopter was assisting in surveillance in the vicinity of Highway 1806 during an active protest situation Sunday morning. A sheriff on board the helicopter reported to law enforcement on the ground that the helicopter pilot and passengers were "in fear of their lives", and that the "drone came after us."
Around 11:00 a.m., the drone was flying directly above officers, in violation of FAA rules. Law enforcement used less-than-lethal ammunition to fire on and damage the UAS, which was then landed by the drone operator.
Two drone operators have previously been charged for crimes involving illegal use of unmanned aircraft systems during the on-going protest situation. Myron Dewey was charged with stalking and Aaron Turgeon was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, one being a C Felony for flying an UAS at a North Dakota Highway Patrol plane.
Authorities are currently monitoring protest activity north of the camp, near Highway 1806. Due to the traffic hazard the public, highway 1806 has been closed due. As of this morning, 200 protesters and 8 horses had cut fence and entered private property east of 1806. This is private property that is a DAPL construction site. DAPL employees are working along the pipeline route today, according to the MCSO press release.
Authorities are currently monitoring protest activity north of the camp, near Highway 1806. Due to the traffic hazard the public, highway 1806 has been closed due. As of this morning, 200 protesters and 8 horses had cut fence and entered private property east of 1806. This is private property that is a DAPL construction site. DAPL employees are working along the pipeline route today, according to the MCSO press release.
Dewey, a journalist used his media drone to video record Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) private security harassing water protectors. Dewey was subject to an illegal field stop, search and seizure of a drone without a warrant. A MCSO deputy was live video recorded on FB by Dewey admitting that a warrant would be issued at a later date for his arrest. Dewey turned himself to the MCSO, was processed and posted a $350 bail bond.
Dewey's case is one of multiple instances where rouge MCSO deputies illegally stop and conduct illegal acts against members of the Native American media and no White DAPL security guard has ever been charged for criminal acts against the water protectors, which most are Native Americans.
Dewey posted on his FB account, "Oceti Sakowin has claimed eminent domain over traditional lands, "broken treaty lands" from Energy Transfer company, "Dakota Access pipeline company".
Digital Smoke Signals media tent is erected to report news from front lines.
The lands have now been blessed correctly by the original caretakers of the land.
The sacred fire has been lit of the 7 councils!!!
It is an honor to witness..."
The Sacred Stone Camp released the following statement, "This morning, at approximately 8am central, water protectors took back unceded territory affirmed in the 1851 Treaty of Ft. Laramie as sovereign land under the control of the Oceti Sakowin, erecting a frontline camp of several structures and tipis on Dakota Access property, just east of ND state highway 1806. This new established camp is 2.5 miles north of the Cannon Ball River, directly on the proposed path of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). This site is directly across the road from where DAPL security dogs attacked water protectors on September 3rd...Meanwhile, DAPL is still trying to dig, heading towards this new frontline camp. This is real.
We are done with being reactionary. We are asserting our rights as Indigenous peoples! This remains a non-violent direct action committed to peaceful civil disobedience."
On Saturday, at least 126 water protectors (protesters) were arrested, the MCSO reported, since August 10, a total of 269 have been arrested for illegal protests. About 80 protesters were booked for criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, fleeing from amln officer, engaging in a riot and several were charged with felony endangerment for attaching themselves to DAPL equipment and vehicles, according to N. Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Bryan Niewind. Captain Niewind as Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier and Morton County State Attorney Ladd Erickson believe that under the N. Dakota state criminal law, if more than five persons engage in a peaceful traditional Native American prayer ceremony near or at a #NoDAPL construction site, it is a riot.
Dewey posted on his FB account, "Oceti Sakowin has claimed eminent domain over traditional lands, "broken treaty lands" from Energy Transfer company, "Dakota Access pipeline company".
Digital Smoke Signals media tent is erected to report news from front lines.
The lands have now been blessed correctly by the original caretakers of the land.
The sacred fire has been lit of the 7 councils!!!
It is an honor to witness..."
The Sacred Stone Camp released the following statement, "This morning, at approximately 8am central, water protectors took back unceded territory affirmed in the 1851 Treaty of Ft. Laramie as sovereign land under the control of the Oceti Sakowin, erecting a frontline camp of several structures and tipis on Dakota Access property, just east of ND state highway 1806. This new established camp is 2.5 miles north of the Cannon Ball River, directly on the proposed path of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). This site is directly across the road from where DAPL security dogs attacked water protectors on September 3rd...Meanwhile, DAPL is still trying to dig, heading towards this new frontline camp. This is real.
We are done with being reactionary. We are asserting our rights as Indigenous peoples! This remains a non-violent direct action committed to peaceful civil disobedience."
On Saturday, at least 126 water protectors (protesters) were arrested, the MCSO reported, since August 10, a total of 269 have been arrested for illegal protests. About 80 protesters were booked for criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, fleeing from amln officer, engaging in a riot and several were charged with felony endangerment for attaching themselves to DAPL equipment and vehicles, according to N. Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Bryan Niewind. Captain Niewind as Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier and Morton County State Attorney Ladd Erickson believe that under the N. Dakota state criminal law, if more than five persons engage in a peaceful traditional Native American prayer ceremony near or at a #NoDAPL construction site, it is a riot.
The state criminal riot law specifically cites that a person or persons have to engage in "tumultuous and violent conduct creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons or substantially obstructs law enforcement or other government function" as stipulated under the N. Dakota criminal code. Peacefully engaging in a Native American prayer ceremony and being unarmed at #NoDAPL site, which many live streaming videos posted on FB by water protectors is not a riot, but videos have shown that the police actually have harassed, intimidated and engaged in a riot themselves to provoke water protectors who remained peaceful.
The ACLU-ND has filed an open records requests with the N. Dakota State Highway Patrol and the MCSO to look into alleged illegal acts by law enforcement against Native Americans who are protesting DAPL's desecration of sacred burial sites along its route.
MCSO continues to use drones to illegally spy on six Native American camps, but law enforcement don't allow media to record their actions in public by drones on the ground.
Also authorities continue to arrest journalists at #NoDAPL sites and have charged them with criminal trespassing as an attempt to deter other journalists from covering the abuse and illegal acts against Native Americans and the local Native indigenous media. Amy Goodman, a journalist from Democray Now was facing criminal trespassing, which was dropped and later charged for rioting, but the charge was dismissed as well. Erickson failed to prosecute Goodman for exposing an all White DAPL security team using vicious dogs to attack and bite water protectors and a child. The commercialized mainstream reported the vicious dog attack and to date, none of the DAPL security guards have been charged with a crime indicating alleged corruption by the Morton County Sheriff's Office, N. Dakota State Highway Patrol and Morton County State Attorney Erickson who have been bought off by DAPL, according to water protectors.
Prolific Facebook video showing Morton County Sheriff deputies and other officers shoot at Native American media drone
http://bit.ly/2el3vQg
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