Call it the first shot fired in the great Mariner East investigation.
Chester County District Attorney Mike Hogan several months ago announced he was starting a criminal investigation into the controversial pipeline project. He even empaneled an investigate grand jury.
On Thursday, the first criminal charges were filed in the case.
Two state constables were charged with oppression and other charges for their work as security guards working on the pipeline. In effect, they were charged with using their state positions while working for a private entity. You're not allowed to do that.
Hogan's office detailed in the charges that the two showed their badges while working to secure the area of the pipeline in West Whiteland that was the scene of a sinkhole.
Defense attorneys are calling the case against their client an "overreach."
As it turns out, Gov. Tom Wolf just happened to be touring downtown West Chester yesterday, the same day the charges were filed.
The governor was met by anti-pipeline protesters, who have been outspoken for months, vehemently opposed to the way Wolf and state agencies have overseen the pipeline project.
They got a promise from the governor that he would return to Chester County and visit the pipeline construction site, something opponents of the project have been asking him to do for months.
Stay tuned, the Battle of Mariner East is starting to warm up.
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