CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — The Latest on the Dakota Access oil pipeline protest (all times local):
3:50 p.m.
Authorities say that once they clear an oil pipeline protest camp on private land it will be up to the company building the pipeline to secure the site going forward.
The protesters set up the camp over the weekend on land owned by Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline company trying to complete the project. The erected teepees and tents and brought personal property to the site.
State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong says once the protesters are cleared from the site, it will be turned over to pipeline developer since it's the company's property. She says decisions on what to do with the protesters' property will be up to the company.
Company spokeswoman Vicki Granado didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
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3 p.m.
Authorities have begun arresting some Dakota Access pipeline protesters at a camp the demonstrators set up on private land in the path of pipeline construction.
An Associated Press reporter says law enforcement officers formed a horseshoe-like loop around the camp in North Dakota.
Several protesters were arrested on the perimeter of the camp as authorities slowly moved in.
Police and soldiers launched the operation at midday to oust the protesters, a day after they refused to leave voluntarily.
Many of the protesters were openly defying the authorities, yelling at them as they approached. Others were taking part in prayer circles.
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2:35 p.m.
A woman who's been helping handle security for Dakota Access pipeline protesters says some of them are determined to be arrested while praying.
Vanessa Dundon, an Arizona Navajo, says many want to be arrested when authorities arrive to remove them from a camp in the path of the pipeline construction.
Officers are converging slowly on the camp from two directions, telling protesters through loudspeakers to leave or they'll be arrested.
Many protesters are continuing to defy the authorities, while others are taking part in prayer circles.
The effort to oust the protesters from the private land involves dozens of officers in riot gear, many armed with guns and clubs, along with trucks, police cars, military Humvees, buses and aircraft.
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2 p.m.
Dakota Access pipeline protesters have retreated from a direct confrontation with law enforcement officers and soldiers who are advancing to force them from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction.
About 200 protesters remain in the area, listening to elders speak, burning sage and praying while law officers approach the camp from two directions.
Authorities at mid-day launched an effort to force out the protesters, a day after they refused to leave voluntarily. The operation involves dozens of officers in riot gear, many armed with guns and clubs, along with trucks, police cars, military Humvees, buses and aircraft.
Protesters earlier put on the highway near the camp and set a small fire to slow authorities.
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12:45 p.m.
Authorities have moved in to remove Dakota Access pipeline protesters camped on private land in the path of the pipeline in North Dakota.
The operation that commenced at midday involves dozens of officers in riot gear, some of them armed, along with trucks, police cars, military Humvees and buses. At least two helicopters and a fixed-wing airplane monitored the operation from the air.
Officials told protesters over a loudspeaker to move out.
Protesters parked cars on the highway near the camp and slashed the vehicles' tires to try to slow the authorities. They also set a small fire at one of two blockades they set up on the highway.
The forcible removal began a day after protesters refused to leave voluntarily.
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12:20 p.m.
Authorities say they have begun taking steps to remove Dakota Access pipeline protesters camped on private land in the path of the pipeline in North Dakota.
The Morton County Sheriff's office says law enforcement began the operation at 11:15 a.m. local time Thursday, a day after protesters refused to leave voluntarily.
About 200 activists supporting the Standing Sioux Tribe moved onto the site last weekend, setting up teepees and tents and saying the land is rightfully theirs under a more than century-old treaty.
But the pipeline's developer, Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, says the protesters are trespassing and demands they leave.
The almost-complete $3.8 billion pipeline passes through North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa to Patoka, Illinois. Opponents worry about its negative effect on drinking water, as well as the potential destruction of cultural artifacts
More than 260 people have been arrested since demonstrations began in August.
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11:15 a.m.
Authorities have issued arrest warrants for two Dakota Access pipeline protesters who allegedly were involved in an attack on three journalists covering the months-long protest in south central North Dakota.
Authorities say the Oct. 18 attack on the journalists involved protesters taking a reporter's microphone, blocking a vehicle in which the journalists locked themselves, and shaking and hitting the vehicle. Law officers eventually rescued the journalists after they called 911.
James White, of Fort Yates, is charged with felony restraint and reckless endangerment, along with fleeing police.
Kareen Lewis is charged with felony restraint. Court documents don't list a hometown for him, and documents don't list an attorney for either man.
Authorities say they're still trying to identify three other protesters considered "people of interest" in the case.
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10:20 a.m.
Protesters against the Dakota Access pipeline are gearing up for a confrontation with authorities over a patch of private land on the pipeline route.
Protesters constructed two barricades Thursday on a highway near the camp they have established on property owned by the pipeline's developer. They barricades are made of tires, hay bales, logs, plywood and barbed wire.
Protesters also are moving from their main camp, which is on federally owned land, to the camp on the private property. Riders on horseback are monitoring the movements of authorities.
On Wednesday, authorities gathered in the area with heavy equipment including Humvees and buses and demanded the protesters leave the private land. The protesters refused.
Protester Robert Eder says if authorities clear out the camp, "there will be twice as many tomorrow."
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6:45 a.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration is restricting flights over an area of North Dakota where law enforcement and people protesting the construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline are bracing for a confrontation.
The restriction went into effect Wednesday and will last until Nov. 5.
Authorities say only aircraft affiliated with the North Dakota Tactical Operation Center are allowed within a radius of about 4 ½ miles of Cannon Ball, where the protesters have set up camp. The FAA has also banned drones in the airspace.
A months-long dispute over the pipeline reached a crisis point at the weekend when some 200 protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. On Wednesday, authorities gathered in the area with heavy equipment including Humvees and buses and demanded they leave. The protesters refused.
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12:10 a.m.
Protesters trying to stop construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline are bracing for a confrontation with police after the demonstrators refused to leave private land in the pipeline's path.
A months-long dispute over the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline reached a crisis point when some 200 protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners.
Law enforcement officers demanded that the protesters leave on Wednesday and they refused. It appeared that only thick fog and cloudy skies kept a large contingent of law enforcement officers from moving in. Officials have frequently monitored protesters by air.
Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said Wednesday that the rule of law must be enforced.
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