Person charged and awaiting trial after shooting an electrical substation and spray-painting messages relating to the Dakota Access Pipeline – Ray, ND

July 12th, 2023

A Canadian is facing federal charges after authorities alleged he shot a gun at an electricity substation in western North Dakota.

A person appeared Wednesday, July 12, in U.S. District Court in Bismarck on one count each of destruction of an energy facility, “possession of a firearm by an illegal alien” and “possession of ammunition by an illegal alien.” His trial is scheduled for September.

The charge stems from a May 13 incident at the Wheelock substation in Ray, North Dakota. Employees said they found multiple rifle bullet holes in the substation operated by Mountrail-Williams Electric Co-op and Basin Electric Power Co-op, according to a criminal complaint.

The word “DAPL” and other symbols were spray-painted on rocks outside the power station, according to court documents.

No one was injured in the shooting.

DAPL is an acronym for the Dakota Access Pipeline, a nearly 1,200-mile pipeline that carries oil from western North Dakota to Illinois. Construction of the pipeline attracted protesters in 2016.

“Law enforcement also determined that approximately 15 bullets penetrated and damaged substation transformers and numerous electrical apparatuses,” the complaint said.

The bullets caused $100,000 in damage and resulted in 243 customers losing power, the complaint said.

He initially was charged with felony criminal mischief in Williams County District Court, but the charge was dropped Tuesday so federal prosecutors could pursue their case.

He remains in custody at the Williams County Correctional Center. His attorney, Kevin Chapman, did not respond to a request for comment.

Found On Mainstream Media

via: unravel