BROOKINGS COUNTY Tasers were used to subdue a Sioux Falls man following a high-speed chase on Interstate 29 on Tuesday night that included him trying to drive off in a deputys vehicle, according to a Wednesday news release from the Brookings County Sheriffs Office.
Ryan Gapp, 28, is facing 10 charges stemming from the incident. They, per information from a probable cause statement from the Brookings County States Attorneys office, are:
Aggravated eluding
DUI 1st
Ingestion of a controlled drug or substance as felony
Reckless driving
Possession of a loaded firearm while intoxicated
Commit or attempt to commit a felony with a firearm
Resisting arrest
Obstructing an officer, jailer or firefighter
Maximum speeds on interstate (26 mph and over)
Lane driving
Gapp was being held in the Brookings County Detention Center as of Wednesday afternoon on a $5,000 cash bond.
The incident started unfolding at mile marker 134 on I-29, when a Brookings County deputy observed Gapps vehicle traveling at 107 mph, driving across both northbound lanes, Assistant Sheriff Scott Sebring wrote in the news release. A pursuit began, with an attempted stop at mile marker 143 that wasnt successful as Gapp continued northbound, nearly striking other vehicles as he passed them.
At this point, assistance was sought from other agencies, which included the South Dakota Highway Patrol and sheriffs offices from Deuel and Codington counties.
Gapp was finally halted at mile marker 170 with the use of spike strips to deflate his vehicles tires that were deployed by a deputy from Codington County, Sebring wrote.
The (Brookings County) deputy conducted a felony stop and the suspect immediately exited his vehicle and advanced toward the deputy in an aggressive manner and concealing one of his hands, Sebring wrote. Not knowing if the suspect was armed or not, the deputy used his vehicle as cover as the suspect continued to advance ignoring commands and concealing his hand.
He went on to say that the deputy, once Gapp had advanced to the side of the patrol vehicle, did not see a weapon in either of his hands. Its at this point Gapp that entered the deputys vehicle, and also when personnel from the assisting agencies arrived on scene, Sebring wrote.
A struggle ensued and (Gapp) began attempting to put the vehicle in drive and began revving the engine, Sebring wrote. At this time, fearing that the suspect may harm an officer or be successful in fleeing in the patrol vehicle, a South Dakota (Highway Patrol) trooper fired three rounds from his duty weapon into the rear drivers side tire of the patrol vehicle in an effort to disable it.
He noted that Tasers were used by personnel from the assisting agencies, but they had no effect on Gapp when he was in the patrol vehicle. After officers disabled its ignition and Gapp left the vehicle, a Taser used by the Brookings County deputy helped subdue Gapp, resulting in him being safely placed under arrest.
Sebring went on to write that a large buck knife and two loaded firearms magazines were found on Gapp. A loaded firearm and more ammunition were found in Gapps vehicle during a search.
He added that neither the officers or Gapp sustained serious injuries in the incident.
Other assisting agencies were the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and Watertown Ambulance Service.
The Brookings County Sheriffs Office is continuing to investigate the case, Sebring wrote.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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