Three Individuals Arrested Protesting Pipeline

A person is taken into custody at the Dakota Access Pipeline site along the Skunk River in Mahaska County on Monday night.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Iowa State Patrol were called to the construction site on Monday evening in regards to individuals trespassing at a location where the Dakota Access Pipeline was being pulled underneath the South Skunk River.

The Dakota Access Pipeline is a four-state-long pipeline that will transport oil from the Bakken Formation in North Dakota and will ultimately terminate in Patoka, Illinois.

Along the way, the pipeline will cross South Dakota and Iowa.

The group was live-streaming their described “Water Protectors” at the construction site. Two individuals had attached themselves to a device, which ultimately required the Oskaloosa Fire Department to respond.

“We’ve got two Protectors locked down on the road,” said Alex Cohen. Cohen was one of nearly a dozen individuals who were present to support the individuals who had locked themselves down at the site.

According to Cohen’s social media information, he’s the Co-Founder and Director of Soul Much Water.

Cohen said that the Water Protectors who had locked themselves down at the boresight for the DAPL were there “protecting the Skunk River and all water from crude oil contamination.”

Oskaloosa News asked for the names of the Water Protectors and Cohen responded by saying their names are Michael and Barry. “I know them, but I don’t know their last names,” said Cohen.

First responders work to free a DAPL protestor from a construction site in Mahaska County.

“Mississippi Stand” was live-streaming the protest over Facebook Live. Mississippi Stand describes itself as “a group of concerned citizens who are working to end the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Mississippi River.”

Cohen explained that Mississippi Stand started in Lee County, Iowa, “protecting the mighty Mississippi,” but after the pipeline was completed under the Mississippi River, the group has now turned its attention “to defend Iowa. To keep resistance here.”

The Skunk River and the Dakota Access Pipeline intersect on Queens Avenue in Mahaska County, and that is where Cohen and Mississippi Stand decided to go next.

Cohen explained that the Water Protectors had chained themselves to a concrete-filled device in the middle of an access road to where the boring had been taking place.

“They are protecting the water by stopping this desecration of the land and the water sources,” added Cohen.

Cohen said the Water Protectors were risking everything by locking themselves down at the construction site.

Protestors had piled up used tires at the entrance to the construction site “as a second blockade to the ultimate one,” Cohen described.

“We love you, Water Protectors” was heard being shouted out to those locked down by others who had staged near the roadway and tire barrier.

Those protesting the construction site could be heard making at times rude remarks toward law enforcement and firefighters.

A protestor is taken into custody at a protest at a DAPL location in Mahaska County on November 7, 2016.

Firefighters were harassed by protesters as they worked to remove the protesters from their device.

Three individuals were taken into custody by law enforcement, says the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office.

Barry Thomas Winter, Michael Joseph Kedlick, and Krissana Christina Limlarmai are facing charges stemming from the protest in Mahaska County.

Mahaska County Chief Deputy Trevor Wells spoke with Oskaloosa News as the scene was being cleared.

Wells indicated that two of those being arrested were being charged with trespassing, and he was unaware of what the charges were for a third subject placed under arrest.

Wells said the device the protestors chained themselves to included cement around chains “and their arms were inside the cement,”

“I believe in everybody’s right to protest,” said Wells. “People get arrested if they are asked to leave and they fail to do so.”

A criminal charge is merely a criminal charge and not an indication of guilt. All suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.