Meron Woldu, a man arrested a year ago on drug charges, is now awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to his involvement in a fentanyl pill distribution conspiracy. In federal court in Sioux Falls, Woldu admitted to conspiring to obtain fentanyl-laced pills from Arizona, intended for distribution in South Dakota.
While states like California often dominate headlines for urban wildfire disasters, a new federal government report says communities in South Dakota—especially those near wildlands—are increasingly vulnerable.
Betty Cross, a woman arrested in connection with a kidnapping earlier this month, has returned to Sioux Falls following her extradition from Detroit. Cross appeared in court on Monday after authorities found seven-month-old Chosen Butler with her in Michigan, shortly after an arrest warrant was issued. Cross has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, as the baby was temporarily placed in her care but she refused to return him. Fortunately, the baby was unharmed and is now in protective custody.
A Sioux Falls man, Shawn Goetsch, has been charged with first-degree robbery after allegedly stealing alcohol from the Hy-Vee on South Minnesota Avenue. Police say Goetsch was confronted by an employee, and in response, he threatened the employee with a knife before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Goetsch was arrested on Sunday and is facing serious charges.
An airman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Quinterius Chappelle, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in federal court on Tuesday. Chappelle is charged in connection with the death of Sahela Sangrait, whose body was discovered near Hill City earlier this month.
Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson will deliver the State of the City Address on Tuesday, March 25, at 7:00 PM at the Amphitheater at Mitchell Technical College. The presentation will cover updates on 2024 projects and provide a glimpse into 2025 initiatives for the city.
David Combe, accused of making threats against President Trump, is set to appear in South Dakota court today. Combe was arrested in South Dakota after being wanted in Arizona for sending a threatening letter to the President in September 2020, near the end of Trump’s first term. The letter allegedly contained a message saying he “would hunt down and kill the president,” along with white powder and the phrase “PS: enjoy the anthrax in the envelope.”
An unsettling event is unfolding again at Lake Byron, just north of Huron, where residents have been working to clean up thousands of dead snow geese washing up on shore. This marks the third consecutive year of this issue, but this time is by far the worst, with an estimated 20,000 birds already collected. The cause is believed to be a combination of the bird flu and a mild winter, which allowed the geese to remain in the area longer. Local authorities and residents are in the process of burying the dead birds on land owned by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
Four people are facing assault, drug charges, and charges related to outstanding warrants following their arrests in Canton on Saturday. Police responded to a report from a person who had been followed after leaving Inwood, Iowa, and claimed to have been assaulted by the suspects. The authorities tracked down the suspect vehicle at East 2nd Street and North Broadway. The individuals arrested have not yet been identified, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The investigation into the murder of Jacob Gallman Ringing Shield in Sioux Falls earlier this month is ongoing. Police responded to a violent incident on 8th Street and Indiana Avenue on Saturday, March 8th, where they discovered a man with a severe head injury following a fight.