Three pipeline protestors arrested for felony damage to property

On Feb. 6, three individuals were arrested in Twin Lakes Township for extensive damage to various vehicles at a pipeline job site. Shawn Etsitty, Edgar Morelos Pelayo, and Harvey Goodsky were each charged with felony first-degree criminal damage to property by the Carlton County Attorney's Office for $25,000 in estimated damages.

According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement was dispatched early in the morning to the pipeline job site on County Road 61 when security guards reported protestors on site. Three individuals were observed around some of the equipment before fleeing into the woods. Deputies were able to locate the three suspects in the woods. A search of Etsitty located wiring and a list of job sites with numerous locations of where the pipeline crossed into Carlton County.

Upon inspection of the equipment at the site, it was discovered a large excavator had a glue-like substance covering the keyhole in the door to the cab and sand had been poured into the radiator and oil fill. Another vehicle had sustained damage to its oil reservoir, which was cracked and leaking oil; wires had been cut, and the dash ripped out.

Goodsky will return to court on March 11 for an omnibus hearing while Etsitty and Morelos Pelayo will reappear on March 13 for an omnibus hearing and initial appearance, respectively.