Crime · Rapid City, SD
Rapid City police responded to a home in the 1500 block of Kellogg Place around 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, where they found a man with a gunshot wound. The man was transported to a hospital but later died; his name is being withheld pending family notification. About 50 minutes later, a Pennington County sheriff's deputy spotted a blue Chevrolet pickup matching witness descriptions speeding on Elk Vale Road, leading to a pursuit that ended near East Highway 44 and Lonetree Road. Two occupants fled the vehicle but were later detained, and several firearms connected to the truck were recovered. The Rapid City Police Department and Pennington County Sheriff's Office are jointly investigating; the suspect has not been identified.
Crime · Rapid City, SD
A pedestrian suffered serious injuries around 6:40 a.m. Tuesday after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Omaha and Fifth streets in Rapid City, South Dakota. The driver of a northbound black Jeep Gladiator turned right onto eastbound Omaha Street and hit the pedestrian in a crosswalk, dragging them a significant distance before leaving the scene. Police located the vehicle and its driver in the 400 block of East North Street; charges are pending and the investigation continues with assistance from the South Dakota Highway Patrol and Pennington County Sheriff's Office.
Crime · Rapid City, SD
Joshua Thunder Hawk, 25, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree manslaughter in the beating death of Michael Ladeaux, 24. Police found Ladeaux with significant injuries in an apartment hallway; he later died at the hospital. The 40-year sentence was the maximum agreed to in Thunder Hawk's plea deal. The defense noted this was his first felony and cited long struggles with alcohol and intoxication the night of the killing.
Crime · Rapid City, SD
Dustin Yatsayte was sentenced to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting first-degree manslaughter in the death of Michael Ladeaux, who was beaten to death in Rapid City in 2025. Under his plea agreement, Yatsayte admitted to kicking Ladeaux at least once. The sentence was the maximum agreed to in the deal. Yatsayte's third felony conviction came while he was on parole for possession of a controlled substance and aggravated assault; a witness noted he apparently tried to stop the beating.
Public Safety · Rapid City, SD
Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, and clocks fall back Sunday, Nov. 1, creating what AAA South Dakota calls a triple threat of pedestrians, impairment and fatigue on area roads. AAA public affairs manager Shawn Steward urged drivers to watch for children who may dart into traffic, noting streets will be dark by 5:44 p.m. on Halloween night. Rapid City Police Department public information officer Brendyn Medina said officers will be looking for impaired drivers and warned those pulled over and found too impaired to drive will be arrested for DUI. Steward also noted the time change will affect commutes into the following week, with darker evenings during travel home.
Community News · Rapid City, SD
Westerly winds are bringing warmer, drier air to the South Dakota Black Hills region today, with temperatures rising into the 50s and 60s. Patchy fog and icy roads were present in some areas this morning, but conditions are expected to improve as low clouds mix out. A weak disturbance may bring light showers by dawn Wednesday, followed by mostly sunny days through Thursday. Halloween (Saturday) will see a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms mainly around the Black Hills Region, while a wetter storm system arrives late Sunday into Monday.
Community brief · Rapid City, SD
The annual RSVP+ donation drive benefiting the Cornerstone Rescue Mission and area veterans closes Wednesday, Oct. 28. Organizers still need new socks, underwear, winter coats, hats and gloves, with coats being the most urgent item—only about ten have been donated so far, according to Rapid City public information officer Darrell Shoemaker. Donations can be dropped off at RSVP+ locations in Spearfish or Rapid City; donors are asked to call ahead.
