WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Kirchmeier stated on Monday that the protesters's tactics have been increasing in their aggressiveness.
"This is not going to get solved out there on the road between clashes of protesters and law enforcement."
The $3.7-billion Dakota Access Pipeline is envisioned to transport domestically-produced light crude oil from North Dakota through the US states of South Dakota and Iowa to Illinois. The Standing Rock Sioux opposes the building of the pipeline on the basis it will affect their water sources and violate sacred places, including burial sites.
According to media reports, clashes between the protesters and police near the pipeline site on Sunday left at least 167 people injured after an attempt to cross the bridge on a state highway. Protesters claimed law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets and water during the demonstration.
"Some of the water was used to repel some of the protest activities that were occurring and it was used at a time to where they were aggressive to the officers," Kirchmeier said.
The number one thing has still been the safety for everybody, he concluded, adding that some of the actions taken last night were undertaken solely for that purpose.
