Dakota County Not Involved with Dakota Access Pipeline: Sheriff

Dakota County is not involved in the protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline currently taking place in North Dakota. Confused? You aren't alone.

In the last couple of months, Dakota County Sheriff Tim Lesliewe said his office has received several phone calls, emails and social media posts regarding rumors regarding county's involvement in North Dakota for the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

"These messages have come from local residents as well as other countries as far away as Australia," Lesliewe said in a statement Tuesday. "While some have been a simple inquiry, others have been completely inappropriate and inaccurate. Our office is located in eastern Minnesota and has had no involvement in this event, including any sort of law enforcement presence. We have a great rapport with the community we serve and strive to be as transparent as we can. We appreciate those who have called to confirm our involvement and request that those who have not checked their facts reach out to us before rumors spread further."

While the shared name of "Dakota" may be one reason for the confusion, it may not be the only one. Just across the Mississippi River, Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis and much of the west metro, did send members of law enforcement to North Dakota to assist Morton County in the fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline. And that stirred controversy.

• Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Blasts Lt. Gov. Tina Smith Over Dakota Access Pipeline Involvement

Last month, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith took to Facebook to publicly criticize Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek over the pipeline involvement.

"I do not support Sheriff Stanek's decision to send his deputies to North Dakota, nor did we approve his decision to begin with," Smith said. "I do not have any control over the Sheriff's actions, which I think were wrong, and I believe he should being his deputies home, if he hasn't already. I strongly support the rights of all people to peacefully protest, including, tonight, the Standing Rock protest."

Smith was one of many public officials in Minnesota to take aim at the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. Stanek responded, saying his department was only following orders from state officials.

With his statement Tuesday, Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie hopes to avoid any controversy for his own department.

Image via Morton County Sheriff's Office