A Mitchell man was arrested Friday night after leading Pierre area law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through both Pierre and Fort Pierre. Hughes County Sheriff Darin Johnson says 23 year-old Hunter Van Ash of Mitchell was under surveillance for an active Felony warrant for Absconding from the Department of Corrections. Van Ash was also a suspect in other unlisted crimes in Stanley County. He was spotted getting into a vehicle. As officers moved into position, the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed through Pierre. The pursuit at one point was westbound on Missouri Avenue between Brule and Chapelle Streets. Two marked vehicles and two other vehicles without visible lights could be seen as the pursuit traveled down Missouri Avenue. Officers, which included personnel from the U-S Marshals Service, Stanley County Sheriff and South Dakota Highway Patrol, followed Van Ash over the Missouri River into Fort Pierre, stopping west of Fort Pierre on Highway 14th. Officers performed a high-risk felony traffic stop and took Van Ash into custody without incident. Van Ash is currently in custody at the Hughes County Jail on charges of Aggravated Eluding, Reckless Driving, Speeding and a Stop Sign violation. Other charges regarding additional traffic violations are pending.
Zach Nelson, KCCR Radio