Crime rises in Rapid City

RAPID CITY—In the last several days, multiple shootings have happened, resulting in multiple deaths, several arrests have been made and people are in custody.

From the start, the report came back for Robert Yellow Bird, a 17 year old from Sioux Falls. He was initially wanted for questioning regarding a shooting incident at the Knollwood Apartments in Rapid City. Then, a second day saw two more get killed, and the parties of Chase Quick Bear and Rochelle Janis would be wanted for questioning. A fourth person, Benita Cisneros, would be added to the list and over the course of a couple weeks, three of the four suspects were brought into custody thanks to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.

For extra news, a shooting by the Central States Fair, close to midnight, would see another juvenile brought in, Kasey Arehart, Rapid City. using a gun discovered to have been stolen back in 2020. And the most recent shooting episode, near the old Prairie Market, saw two people arrested for firing a gun at another person…on top of a shooting at a trailer located off of Country Road. Acey Morrison, 30, Rapid City, was the deceased. Details are sketchy, as the person shot, was found in another person’s house. The police did release the names of the two people killed on August 20,^,29 year old Joseph Standing Bear from Norris, and 37 year old Petan Milk from Rapid City.

Rapid City Police Captain James Johns would address the rising crime issue, and believes that part of the problem stems from gang resurgence in the regional area. He did mention that the police won’t tolerate the level of violence that has been seen in the last two weeks.

Johns states that several local gangs have been active online, and their handiwork, in the form of graffiti around North Rapid, is highly visible. According to Johns, The Boyz, were tied back to the Milk and Standing Bear’s deaths, and Johns mentioned that the gangs that exist here, like TBZ are not as organized as traditional gangs, with a hierarchy of leadership.

However, Johns alleges that the problem that needs to be addressed, stems from a lack of accountability, from the juvenile justice system. Repeat offenders are repeating the same crimes, causing the whole system to become overloaded he believes.

“I think there’s wonderful people doing their best in the juvenile system, but right now, the juvenile system is part of the problem that leads us to these violent kids.” Johns said.

Johns wouldn’t mince words, saying that the lack of accountability from adult role models and the state leads to kids thinking they can get away with anything as well as leaving them open to being led down “a path they don’t need to be on.”

“These kids are looking for something and unfortunately, these gangs fill a void and that’s a sad road to go down,” Johns mentioned. “Gangs step in when there’s a lack of leadership or lack of role models and things like that.”

Johns did mention the Rapid City Police Department is working hard to address these problems. The development of the substation at Knollwood Townhouses gives younger kids a place to go. Art projects and bake sales are done from here to help people find places to socialize with other kids, draw, and even play video games.

There’s also activity with local community groups, like I Am Legend, Journey On and local churches. Johns noted it’s going to take time, and knows it’s a generational change.

(Contact Joseph Budd at sales2@nativesunnews.today)

 

 

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