A South Dakota Highway Patrol saturation patrol in Belle Fourche, Huron, and Yankton led to dozens of arrests. They’re part of the public safety campaign Operation: Prairie Thunder.
Patrols include coordination with the state Highway Patrol and members of city, county and federal law enforcement targeting crime and unsafe activity on the roads.
Department of Public Safety, or DPS, data shows from November 12 to December 5, patrols resulted in 75 individuals in custody. Of those, 42 had a drug charge and 33 did not.
The patrol executed 9 felony-level warrants and 5 misdemeanor-level warrants. They also apprehended one parole absconder.
The patrols also allow DPS to contact Immigrations Customs Enforcement for immigration encounters. Of 27 individual ICE contacts, 21 were put in custody.
