Green Party's Jill Stein could face charges for Dakota Access protest

BISMARCK, N.D., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein will likely be charged with vandalism or trespassing at a North Dakota construction site during her participation in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, law enforcement said.

Stein allegedly spray painted on a bulldozer during the protests on Tuesday, which has pitted multiple Native American groups against an oil company over the building of a pipeline that could affect their water supply, among other issues.

The Morton County Sheriff's Department is "working up the information through the state's attorney's office to pursue charges" against the presidential nominee, said Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier.

No arrest has been made and if the charges include either vandalism or trespassing, it is not known if it will be determined a felony or misdemeanor offense.

Kirchmeier said about 25 officers responded and saw masked or goggled protesters on horses, others holding hatchets.

Sheriff's deputies "pulled back," Kirchmeier said. "I don't believe that we need to go in there and have physical altercations with the protesters," he said.

No construction workers were at the site at the time.