A suspicious vehicle in a ditch led to a seven-hour manhunt in Yankton County on Tuesday, according to the Yankton County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said that deputies were called to the area of 449th Avenue and 296th Street at approximately 12:10 p.m. Tuesday after a report of a suspicious vehicle. The responding deputy made contact with the driver, Justin Thompson of Irene, who fled the vehicle and ran into a wooded area with what was believed to have been a rifle.
Law enforcement officials staged the area and eventually located Thompson with assistance from the South Dakota Highway Patrol airplane and the Yankton County Emergency Management drone. The suspect was arrested at approximately 6:58 p.m. due to his having outstanding warrants in Turner and Clay counties.
Deputies later recovered a rifle, which is being investigated.