Dec. 21—WAGNER, S.D. — A 21-year-old man from Wagner has been arrested on several charges following a high-speed chase in Charles Mix County.
The incident unfolded on Dec. 6, when the Mitchell Police Department alerted the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office about a stolen vehicle case they were investigating. The stolen vehicle, a white Ford Escape, was tracked via GPS to a roadway in Lake Andes.
Upon arrival at the scene, a deputy from the sheriff’s office spotted a white vehicle matching the description of the reported stolen Ford Escape. When the deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver, later identified as Arpan, allegedly accelerated and fled, initiating a pursuit. The chase took place along US Highway 18 and various local roads, with Arpan reaching speeds of 70 to 100 mph. The pursuit continued as he turned onto multiple streets, zigzagging through the area until he ultimately crashed into a ditch while trying to make a left turn onto 295th Street.
After exiting the vehicle through the passenger side due to the driver’s door being blocked, Arpan complied with law enforcement’s orders to lie on the ground. Officers then retrieved his backpack from the passenger floorboard. A search of the bag revealed one identification card and five debit or credit cards belonging to two different victims from Mitchell, according to court documents.
During processing at the jail, a small bag containing a crystal-like substance fell from Arpan’s rectal area.
As a result, Arpan is facing multiple charges. He is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle valued between $5,000 and $100,000, which is classified as a Class 4 felony. Additionally, he faces six counts of identity theft, each classified as Class 6 felonies. He is also charged with second-degree eluding, another Class 6 felony, and unauthorized possession of a controlled substance in jail, a Class 4 felony.
In South Dakota, a Class 4 felony can lead to up to ten years in prison and/or fines reaching $20,000. Class 6 felonies carry maximum sentences of two years in prison and/or fines up to $4,000.