A S.D. Highway Patrol trooper was armed with a military-style rifle as law enforcement agencies closed in on a Belle Fourche man armed apparently with a big game hunting quality crossbow and at least one handgun early Monday afternoon. The incident ended with the man's surrender before anyone was injured. (Photo by Milo Dailey, Belle Fourche Post/Bee)
BELLE FOURCHE - A Belle Fourche man surrendered after about an hour of armed confrontation with law enforcement Monday afternoon.
The man was scheduled to be transported to Rapid City for psychological evaluation late Monday, according to Butte County Sheriff Fred Lamphere.
Lamphere said after the incident that he was withholding the name of the suspect until after the evaluation and after officers filed their paperwork that may result in criminal aharges.
A neighbor at the scene, however, identified the man as Michael Boyer who lived in the neighborhood.
The standoff lasted just under 90 minutes. There were no apparent injuries to lawmen or the suspect.
According to a joint news release from Lamphere and Belle Fourche Police Chief Tom Maunders, a man in his late 50s was reported brandishing a weapon in a residential district within four blocks of the police headquarters.
Maunders and Lamphere quickly set up a unified command to close off the area where the man had been seen with what appeared to be a hunting-quality crossbow - and what appeared to be one or two handguns.
As units of the S.D. Highway Patrol joined local officers, homes in the area were evacuated or residents told to stay inside. Local schools were put into lockdown.
The area's law enforcement "Alpha Team" was called along with a trained negotiator from the S.D. Division of Criminal Investigation.
Maunders said local officers were negotiating with the man as well as working to keep him outside but near his home.
The break came after the DCI negotiator talked the man into giving up his weapons and surrendering. Both Maunders and Lamphere credited the DCI agent with ending the confrontation without additional incident.
Local law enforcement got their first call at 12:15 p.m., and the man was reported in custody about 1:40 p.m.
Butte County State's Attorney Timothy Vander Heide said after the incident that law enforcement "did a good job. Nobody got hurt and it's a good day."
Vander Heide said at the scene that he had not yet seen officer reports, and charges would be filed after he had a chance to study the reports.
Maunders said the man allegedly was arrested Saturday in Belle Fourche on unrelated charges, was released from jail and arrested again Sunday in Deadwood on unrelated charges.
Agencies involved in Monday's standoff included Belle Fourche Police, Butte County Sheriff's Office, Butte County Dispatch, S.D. Highway Patrol, Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, DCI, Belle Fourche Fire Department and Belle Fourche Emergency Management. The Belle Fourche ambulance was on standby.
Posted in Top-stories on Sunday, August 24, 2008 11:00 pm | Tags: Milo_dailey, Belle_fourche, Standoff, Fred_lamphere
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