The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation determined a Beresford Police Department Officer was justified in his use of force in a November incident.
The officer stopped Christopher John Pearson for a traffic violation in Beresford. The DCI said when the officer approached the vehicle, he detected the smell of alcohol and saw an open container.
The Attorney General’s office said Pearson “was compliant at first but became more combative once he left the vehicle as instructed.”
The officer pushed Pearson towards the patrol vehicle, and Pearson slammed his fists on the hood of the patrol vehicle. After being placed under arrest, Pearson took the officer’s handcuffs and walked back to his vehicle.
The AG’s office said Person refused the officer’s commands and did not stop after the officer fired his taser at Pearson twice.
When Pearson reached his vehicle, he took a pistol out and pointed it at the officer. The officer fired his weapon killing Pearson.
A link to the DCI investigation summary can be found here.
DCI concluded that the officer "utilized deadly force in a situation that was tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving."
This is the seventh Officer Involved Shooting in the state this year.
