North Dakota pipeline protester charged
with attempted murder
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[November 01, 2016]
By Timothy Mclaughlin
(Reuters) - A demonstrator protesting last
week at the construction site of an oil pipeline in North Dakota was
charged on Monday with the attempted murder of a law enforcement
officer, according to court documents.
Red Fawn Fallis, 37, was confronted by two officers on the evening of
Oct. 27, according to an affidavit, when she was taking part in a
demonstration against the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline project.
The affidavit said law enforcement was working to clear protesters from
a camp on private property and attempted to arrest Fallis for being "an
instigator and acting disorderly," when a struggle occurred with the
officers.
It added that during the struggle, Fallis fired at a police officer
three times with a handgun, without hitting him.
After being subdued and arrested, a small amount of marijuana was found
in Fallis' possession, according to court documents. She is facing
additional charges including engaging in a riot, possession of marijuana
and preventing arrest.
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The attempted murder charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in
prison.
An attorney for Fallis was not listed in court documents and an official
from the Morton County Courthouse said on Monday that Fallis did not yet
have a lawyer.
The 1,172-mile (1,885-km) pipeline, being built by a group of companies
led by Energy Transfer Partners LP <ETP.N>, would offer the fastest and
most direct route to bring Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to U.S.
Gulf Coast refineries.
But the project has faced months of protest from the Standing Rock Sioux
Tribe, as well as environmental activists, who say it threatens local
water supplies and sacred tribal sites.
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Red Fawn Fallis, 37, charged with attempted murder of a law
enforcement officer, is seen in a picture released by the Morton
County States Attorney's Office in Morton County, North Dakota, U.S.
October 31, 2016. Morton County States Attorney's Office/Handout via
REUTERS
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Supporters say the pipeline would be safer and more cost-effective
than transporting the oil by road or rail.
Police clashed with protesters last week as they moved to clear out
a camp constructed by demonstrators on private land, with law
enforcement using rubber bullets, pepper spray and an audio cannon
to disperse demonstrators.
(Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Peter
Cooney)
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