Confidential source tells HPR Gov. Dalrymple will likely deploy National Guard to protest site

While not yet official confirmed, the High Plains Reader last night received information from a confidential source indicating that North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple will likely be deploying National Guard units to the pipeline protest site near Cannon Ball and just north of Standing Rock Reservation.

HPR has reached out to various state leaders to confirm this report. That said, no official has confirmed it. However, in a statement to HPR, Jeffrey Zent, media spokesperson for the governor’s office said the following:

“Unfortunately there isn’t much I can tell you this morning. There will be a briefing this morning in Morton County and there’s going to be a media advisory going out too regarding that there’s going to be some folks over there providing more information as to plans to ensure public safety over the weekend.”

Subsequent to this inquiry, Zent sent media outlets a notice of s news conference to be held at 11:30 this morning to provide an update on public safety measures in

response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protest. Participants will be Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, MG Al Dohrmann, and Col. Mike Gerhart. The news conference will take place at the Morton  County Courthouse in Mandan.

Another confidential source told HPR this morning that it’s accurate that the National Guard is “staged” in case the deployment call comes from the Governor’s Office at any point in time.