Update: No charges will be filed today.
Charges against two people for alleged theft and damage to property at the Gogebic Taconite exploratory drilling site are expected late today or tomorrow.
The charges could go beyond theft and misdemeanor damage and include assault charges.
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Iron County District Attorney Marty Lipske says there are lots of things to consider before he makes a decision about charging two people in last Tuesday’s morning raid of the drill site in the Penokees. He says there won’t be a terrorism charge, but the use of profanity and any contact or threatening gestures may increase charges to assault.
Iron County Sheriff Tony Furyk says about $2,000 in damage was caused to a drill rig, and a couple of items were taken from a Gogebic Taconite. Furyk says they’ve identified the people who will be charged, one man and one woman.
“I am looking at, right now, one count of theft and one count of damage to property on the female that has been identified as taking that property.”
About a dozen people came out of the woods Tuesday and held a 10-15 minute action, and then fled back into the woods, avoiding capture by deputies and while hiding their faces.
“I have seen some of the things that were recorded that day up there and there were some type of covering over the faces.”
A march by protesters on Saturday took place without incident.
GTAC says the incident did not delay their drilling.
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