3 arrested after climbing into Line 3 pipe in Wadena County
Three people were arrested Tuesday after climbing into a pipe while protesting the Line 3 pipeline.
The Northern Lights Task Force said the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a report of demonstrators on the pipeline right of way in Huntersville Township at about 11 a.m. The caller told authorities about 30 people were climbing on equipment and pipes at the work site.
Law enforcement went to the scene and were told by construction workers that four people had climbed into a pipe with cold weather gear and sleeping bags.
Dispersal orders were given and most of the group left the property. However, three remained inside the pipe, which was about 2,250 feet long, according to authorities.
After about six hours, the three finally exited the pipe and were taken into custody after being cleared by medical personnel. They were identified as 20-year-old Trinity Shaw-Stewart, of Medford, Oregon, 22-year-old Bonnie Hoekstra, of St. Paul, and 26-year-old Jack Keenan, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
All three were held on probable cause for gross misdemeanor trespassing.