In North Dakota, the Morton County Sheriff’s Department has concluded its investigation into the use of dogs to attack Native Americans trying to protect a sacred tribal burial site from being destroyed by the construction of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline on September 3. The investigation finds the guards lacked the proper licensing to do security work in North Dakota. It is a Class B misdemeanor to provide private security services without a license in North Dakota, meaning some of the guards could face charges and possible jail time. The Sheriff’s Department probe began after this video recorded by Democracy Now! on September 3 went viral.
Water protector: “These people are just threatening all of us with these dogs. And she, that woman over there, she was charging, and it bit somebody right in the face.”
Amy Goodman: “The dog has blood in its nose and its mouth.”
Water protector: “And she’s still standing here threatening us.
Amy Goodman: “Why are you letting their—her dog go after the protesters? It’s covered in blood!”