Three pipeline protesters took to extreme measures overnight to try and halt construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in Boone County.

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WEBVTT SENT OXYGEN INTO THE PIPE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE SO FAR IN. RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A VERY REAL SAFETY RISK. PROTESTERS WE SPOKE WITH SAY THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE. >> ♪ WERE GOING TO SHUT THIS PIPELINE DOWN ♪ ♪ >> THESE PEOPLE ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES BY CLIMBING INTO THIS PIPELINE TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR WATER. TOMMIE: THREE PROTESTERS ARE CROSSING THE LINE, TRYING TO HALT CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE IN BOONE COUNTY. LISTEN GUYS, GO THAT WAY. GO BACK THAT WAY, PLEASE. TOMMIE: THIS VIDEO SHOWS SECURITY TRYING TO GET THE PROTESTERS OUT OF THE PIPE AROUND 2:00 A.M. THURSDAY MORNING. >> YOU'RE GONNA HURT YOURSELF DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW THAT? >> THEY KNOW. TOMMIE: DEPUTIES WERE ON SCENE AS THE CHAOS UNFOLDED. >> THE CALL CAME IN THAT THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE OUT AT THE SITE AND THEY ALL KIND OF RAN IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND DURING THE RUNNING OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, THREE OF THEM CRAWLED INTO THE PIPE. >> HOW FAR ARE YOU PLANNING TO GO DOW THIS PIPES PRETTY LONG. >> IT'S GETTING KIND OF DUSTY. >> WE DON'T WANT IT. >> SHUT IT DOWN. TOMMIE: OVER 12 HOURS LATER, THE PROTESTERS REMAIN IN THE PIPE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BORED UNDERNEATH THE DES MOINES RIVER. >> THEY'RE WILLING TO RISK EVERYTHING. THEY UNDERSTAND THE RISKS INVOLVED IN THIS. TOMMIE: PROTESTERS SAYS THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO PROTECT FRESH WATER SUPPLIES AND THIS IS THEIR WAY OF SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT. >> I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE'VE TRIED EVERY OTHER POLITICA

Advertisement Protesters halt pipeline work by crawling into pipe Three pipeline protesters took to extreme measures overnight to try and halt construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in Boone County. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Three Bakken pipeline protesters took to extreme measures overnight to try and halt construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in Boone County. The chaos began around 2 a.m. early Thursday morning when officials with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said they received reports of protesters at the pipeline construction site. "The call came in that there were a handful of people out at the site and they all kind of ran in different directions, and during the running of different directions three of them crawled into the pipe,” Boone County Sheriff Gregg Elsberry said. Elsberry said deputies asked the people to come out of the pipe, but they would not follow any commands. Over 12 hours later, the protesters remain in the pipe, which was supposed to be bored underneath the Des Moines River. Officials told KCCI that Bakken sent oxygen into the pipe for the protesters because they are so far in the pipe that it poses a safety risk. Protesters who spoke to KCCI said they are willing to put it all on the line in order to stop the pipeline. "These people are risking their lives by climbing into this pipeline to protect all of our water," said Alex Cohen, with Mississippi Stand. "They're willing to risk everything,” said Ruby Montoya, a media representative for Mississippi Stand. “They understand the risks involved in this." Cohen said the effort to halt construction of the pipeline is worth the risk. "I firmly believe that we've tried every other political process, from protesting to petitioning, and that stuff hasn't worked, and our mother doesn't have time,” Cohen said. “The only thing, I truly believe, that's gonna stop this pipeline is direct action and civil disobedience.” Elsberry said Boone County Sheriff’s department is dealing with a simple trespassing charge, and that deputies are just on standby to keep things peaceful. He said they do not plan to put any deputies in the pipe to get the protesters out because of the safety risk.