PARK RAPIDS, Minn. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed a lower court’s dismissal of excessive force claims brought by an oil pipeline protester against Hubbard County Sheriff Cory Aukes and Chief Deputy Sheriff Scott Parks. Pain compliance techniquesThe federal three-judge court accepted the facts alleged in Locke’s complaint as true. They also pointed out one Minnesota court dismissed a similar charge for lack of probable cause. “Until then, Aukes and Parks are not entitled to qualified immunity.”Case returns to Minnesota courtAccording to a news release from Tim Phillips, Locke’s attorney, the case will return to federal district court in Minnesota. “The Fourth Amendment clearly prohibits police from inflicting excessive force on peaceful protesters,” said Christine Monta of the MacArthur Justice Center, who also represented Locke on the appeal.