CEDAR POINT, N.C. (WITN) – An American Indian group says a peaceful protest at a controversial development site led to an armed confrontation with residents, one who was stabbed on Sunday.
Carteret County deputies say a resident of the Bridge View community was stabbed in the arm by a small pocket knife.
The development is the site of a major archeological find that has halted further construction. An Onslow County lawmaker tried unsuccessfully to get a bill through the legislature that would make it more difficult to stop construction when artifacts are discovered.
In a release, deputies say there had been a fight and one of the Bridge View residents was injured.
Investigators say the person who did the stabbing took off as deputies were arriving but that they have been identified and warrants have been taken out.
During a press briefing today, the 7 Directions of Service claims a Bridge View resident was armed with a gun as well as an off-duty police officer showed up as they were concluding their prayer service. Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck claims that protestors were injured in the confrontation.
“I am personally traumatized as one of the participants who escaped and naively waited for the others only to be told by legal, political, and spiritual leaders I trust that I could not rely on law enforcement protection in that county and to get my victims to safety,” said Cavalier-Keck.
Cavalier-Keck also appears to take issue with the sheriff’s office warrant for arrest.
“The drawing up of charges is based upon hearsay accounts of intoxicated, armed assailants. And the dismissal of direct witness accounts because they were culturally kin to the abused parties,” Cavalier-Keck said
In a late afternoon update, the sheriff’s office says there were numerous participants and witnesses to the fight. They say more interviews need to be conducted and deputies are also reviewing video of what happened.
Deputies say once they complete the investigation, information will be given to the District Attorney’s Office for charging decisions.