A Sioux Falls man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he led a Lyon County deputy on a pursuit that crossed into South Dakota.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, 42-year-old Michael Theesfeld of Sioux Falls was arrested Monday on a warrant stemming from the incident.
In his report, the deputy says he was dispatched to check on a pickup parked along the roadway near 130th Street and Beech Avenue, northwest of Larchwood. When the deputy arrived, he positioned his patrol vehicle in front of the pickup and approached the driver’s side window.
The deputy reports that the driver appeared to be asleep inside the vehicle. When he knocked on the window, the driver woke up and appeared agitated. The deputy asked whether the man had recently used alcohol or drugs, and the driver said he had not. However, the deputy noted that the man displayed several signs of impairment and also appeared to be experiencing possible mental distress.
When the deputy asked the driver to exit the pickup, authorities say the man—later identified as Theesfeld—instead put the vehicle in reverse and sped away from the scene.
The deputy initiated a pursuit, which continued north into South Dakota and did not end until reaching the Sioux Falls city limits. According to the complaint, authorities say Theesfeld committed numerous traffic violations while traveling through South Dakota during the chase.
Theesfeld has been charged in Iowa with eluding law enforcement, a Class D felony. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
Court records show Theesfeld has been scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Friday, March 13th.
He was booked into the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids, but was released the following day after posting a $5,000 bond.
This story is courtesy of fellow Community First Broadcasting station KIWA
