Chaos unfolded in Sioux Falls early Friday morning as police responded to a string of dramatic crimes involving stolen vehicles, smashed windows, and a city bus that was later found engulfed in flames.
Scam alerts are on the rise across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, with officials warning residents about fake messages impersonating the DMV and law enforcement. These phishing scams—via text and email—often falsely claim legal violations and demand immediate payment.
South Dakota’s Project Prison Reset Task Force has narrowed its search for the next men’s state prison to three locations: near Mitchell, near Worthing, or on existing state-owned land.
A Sioux Falls woman, Margaret Spears-Pederson, has been indicted on a grand theft charge for allegedly stealing between $100,000 and $500,000 from 16 victims in Codington County between 2023 and 2025.
Mitchell is a potential location for South Dakota’s new $600 million state prison, and local leaders are seeking public input. The Mitchell Area Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce will host a series of public forums, including an in-person event at Mitchell Tech on June 17, a virtual forum on June 18, and a community debate at Dakota Wesleyan on June 24.
An attempted contraband delivery to the South Dakota State Penitentiary was intercepted on May 29, thanks to the vigilance of corrections staff. During a routine delivery, staff identified suspicious behavior and swiftly intervened, preventing dangerous materials from entering the facility.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced the indictment of 67-year-old Margaret Jean Spears-Pederson of Sioux Falls on one count of Grand Theft. A Codington County Grand Jury indicted Spears-Pederson on May 22 for allegedly taking unauthorized control of funds from 16 victims, totaling between $100,000 and $500,000.
A man is in critical condition following an early morning shooting at a Sioux Falls gas station near 24th Street and Minnesota Avenue. Police say the incident occurred around 1 a.m. Tuesday when an argument broke out between three men in the parking lot.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced that Chao Zheng, a 30-year-old California man, has been sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $325,000 in restitution for his role in a large-scale internet scam. Zheng pleaded guilty to Aiding and Abetting Grand Theft by Deception in connection to the theft of $325,000 from a Lawrence County couple.
South Dakota has confirmed its first measles case of 2025, involving an adult in Meade County who tested positive after returning from international travel. The individual visited urgent care centers in Rapid City and Sturgis on May 28 and 29, prompting a public health alert.