Significant Incident Pierre, South Dakota

Robert E Kelly

Globe University

Composition

CM121.XG1.15SUM

Instructor Christine Higer

Significant Incident Pierre, South Dakota

Involved in Significant Incident on October 30th, near Pierre, South Dakota, were Deputy U.S. Marshals and officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs were attacked by an unknown suspect as they drive to assist the Hughes County Sheriff's Office in the arrest of a fugitive.

Significant Incident Pierre, South Dakota

On October 30, 2013, the U.S. Marshals Service for the District of South Dakota (D/SD) Pierre Area Fugitive Task Force (PAJTF) was conducting an investigation in an attempt to locate and apprehend a fugitive. As Deputy U.S. Marshal Stephen Houghtaling and task force officers briefed for a tactical entry, the target vehicle with the fugitive was observed by a local patrol officer who then attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The vehicle pursuit passed by the briefing location at which time PAJTF members joined the pursuit.

The vehicle pursuit continued for approximately 25 miles before local units terminated their participation as the pursuit entered into Indian Reservation jurisdiction. The pursuit was assumed by one Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer in a marked unit with Deputy Stephen Houghtaling and Supervisory Deputy Paul Keyes following at a distance to observe and back the officer. The pursuit continued for another 10 miles before a vehicle not involved in the situation passed the pursuit traveling in the opposite direction ,turned around  and caught up to the chase.

When the second vehicle turned around and began to catch the pursuit, SDUSM Keyes advised dispatch and participating officers to be aware of the second vehicle. As the second vehicle attempted to overtake the unmarked vehicles of Keyes and Houghtaling, Keyes activated his emergency equipment and attempted to block the second vehicle from passing the pursuing officers. Immediately the driver of the second vehicle discharged a weapon multiple times at Keyes and Houghtaling’s vehicles. Rounds passed through the passenger compartment of Houghtaling’s vehicle through the rear two passenger doors of Houghtaling’s ford explorer causing Houghtaling to veer off onto the shoulder of the road. One round struck the rear tailgate of Keyes’s suburban and the second passed through the rear passenger compartment and lodge into the head rest of the passenger seat directly behind Keyes. As the shooter vehicle continued past Keyes and towards the marked squad car Houghtaling notified that shots had been fired over the tribal law enforcement channel which alerted the Tribal Officer of the situation behind him. As the second vehicle passed the Tribal Officer a round traveled through the driver’s window and lodged into the steering wheel causing the officer to veer onto the shoulder and slow.