Lawsuit alleges N.D. officers were violent with protesters
BISMARCK — A man who was injured during protests against the Dakota Access pipeline in January 2017 has filed a lawsuit accusing North Dakota law enforcement of using “excessive violence.”
Marcus Mitchell, 24, filed the lawsuit Thursday against Morton County, the city of Bismarck and state Highway Patrol officers. The lawsuit says officers fired shotgun beanbag rounds at peaceful, unarmed protesters, including Mitchell. One of the beanbag shots shattered the orbital wall of Mitchell’s left eye, wounding his cheekbone and the skin near his eye, according to the lawsuit.
“The bean bag round became lodged into his eye, with strands of the round protruding out of his left eye socket,” the lawsuit says.
Bismarck spokeswoman Gloria David said the city had not yet been served with the lawsuit. Highway Patrol spokesman Wade Kadrmas declined comment, citing pending litigation. A Morton County official didn’t immediately respond to the Bismarck Tribune’s request for comment Thursday.
Mitchell, a Navajo tribal member who lives in New Mexico, said he underwent treatment but still suffers problems with vision, hearing and smell. His lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and law enforcement accountability.
Mitchell was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and obstruction of a government function. The charges were later dropped, according to the MacArthur Justice Center, which represents Mitchell.