(Brookings Radio – Brookings, SD) A Brookings man is arrested on two counts of First Degree Robbery.
On June 20 of 2021, Brookings Police responded to the armed robbery of a convenience store. Police say a man had pointed a handgun at a cashier, demanded money and fled on foot — taking roughly $700 cash.
Police found discarded clothing, a mask and some electrical tape in a nearby garbage can. Those items were sent to the South Dakota Forensic Laboratory, and officials developed a DNA profile but could not identify the suspect.
In November 2021, another Brookings convenience store was robbed. A month later, the state lab notified police the DNA in that case matched with the earlier robbery.
On June 9, 2026, the state laboratory matched the DNA from those cases with a man added to the FBI’s database for a drug offense — 49-year old Joseph M. Tomaszewski of Brookings.
The Brookings County State’s Attorney’s office said a warrant was issued June 11 and Tomaszewski was arrested. State’s Attorney Dan Nelson said bond was initially set at $75 thousand cash only, however Magistrate Judge Bob Pesall modified that to cash or surety — which only requires 10 percent cash, with the rest covered by a bail bondsman. Nelson said the state opposed that change. Tomaszewski posted bond and is currently out of jail awaiting trial.
