(KXLG – Watertown, SD) The Deuel County Sheriff’s Office reported two incidents this week, including a vehicle pursuit and an attempt to cash a forged check.
On Thursday, July 13, 2023, a traffic complaint call was received around 11:45 am on Interstate 29 near mile marker 149. When they attempted to pull over the vehicle, it did not stop, and a pursuit ensued.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol successfully spiked the vehicle at MM 177 of Interstate 29, but the vehicle continued northbound.
The Watertown Police Dept and Codington County Sheriff’s Office again successfully spiked the vehicle at MM 180 of Interstate 29.
The vehicle came to a stop at MM 181 of Interstate 29.
There were three occupants in the vehicle. Two occupants were juvenile runaways.
One juvenile was from Minnehaha County, and one was from Lincoln County.
The juvenile driver was charged with aggravated eluding, careless driving, failure to stop for law enforcement, and chins.
The pursuit went through Deuel, Hamlin, and Codington counties.
The Deuel County Sheriff’s Office, Codington County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and Watertown Police Department were involved in the pursuit.
On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, a complaint was received in Toronto of someone attempting to cash a forged check. The Sheriff’s Office also received a call about a suspicious vehicle in Toronto when the check was attempted to be cashed. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into the incident.
On July 12, 2023, a report of a forged check attempted to be cashed was reported in Brookings, and the suspect vehicle was traveling on I-29 northbound out of Brookings.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol located and stopped the vehicle near Mile Marker 164 on I-29.
It was determined that two individuals in the vehicle were involved in the incident in Toronto.
Travaris Desmond Johnson and Shankissia Ashley Cato, both from Georgia, were arrested and charged with Forgery, Aiding, and Abetting, or Advising and transported to the Brookings County Detention Center.
The investigation is still ongoing and pending additional charges.
Agencies that assisted are the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Watertown Police Department, Codington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brookings Police Department.
