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Police identify hit-and-run suspect
Matthew E. Mitchell, 48, faces felony, misdemeanor charges
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FarkA 48-year-old Rapid City man will be charged in court next week with Monday's hit-and-run accident that knocked a 12-year-old girl unconscious as she crossed Fifth Street.
On Friday, Rapid City police arrested Matthew E. Mitchell on suspicion of the Class 6 felony, which is punishable by two years in prison and a $2,000 fine upon conviction. Mitchell also faces a charge of driving without a valid license, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine.
On Thursday morning, police received a tip about a vehicle, matching the description of the car sought after the crash, abandoned off Sheridan Lake Road on the west side of town.
Officers recovered a silver four-door 2000 Toyota Corolla with the passenger side window and mirror missing. The damage matched investigators' expectations from debris at the accident scene, and further investigation confirmed the materials matched those of the seized car.
"Police contacted the owner, which was Mitchell. After talking to him at the police station, it was determined he had been driving the car at the time of the accident," police Capt. Ed Hofkamp said Friday.
Mitchell was released from police custody after his arrest. A court date is pending.
Although police allege that Mitchell did not have a valid South Dakota driver's license at the time of the accident, they say he had current car insurance.
Pulled from traffic by her sister and a passer-by, the Dakota Middle School student was last reported in good condition at home after treatment at the hospital.
Hofkamp thanked the community for its care and concern in assisting with the investigation. "It really did help in locating this car and eventually solved this case," he said.
The Community Reward Fund offered $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver involved in this crash. Should Mitchell be convicted, the committee assigned to the Community Reward Fund will review the information provided to determine payment for helping to locate the vehicle involved in the crash.
Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com
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