SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- We have been following an officer-involved shooting incident this evening that started in central Sioux Falls along West 12th Street.
That area had been blocked off by police, but as of 9:30 p.m., the closures have been lifted. The incident led to a pursuit that ended
on I-29.
It was a chaotic scene along 12th street in Sioux Falls Tuesday afternoon. Police were called there after officers from the violent crime unit tried arresting Samir Albaidhani, a 25-year-old from Sioux Falls. Police say he was a parole absconder and wanted for multiple warrants.
"The offender produced a firearm and fired at our officers. Our officers did return fire, but in the course of that engagement, one of our officers was struck by the suspect's shot," Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum said.
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The officer was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Thum says Albaidhani then stole a vehicle and traveled south on I-29 when he was spotted by South Dakota Highway Patrol. Authorities caught up to Albaidhani near the Beresford exit.
"At the end of that pursuit, some shots were exchanged by our trooper. The suspect was struck. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance. None of our troopers were hurt during this incident," Cpt. Rob Mayer of the South Dakota Highway Patrol said.
Thum says this is the first time an officer has been struck by gunfire in Sioux Falls since the 1980s.
"We are very fortunate that an officer being shot is a unique circumstance for our community, but we don't take that for granted," Thum said.
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And Thum was pleased with the response of law enforcement.
"We had federal, local agencies, highway patrol coming in, and again, very quickly, units were able to get there to help out," Thum said.
Albaidhani has a lengthy criminal history. He was sentenced in 2019 for burglary and grand theft in Minnehaha County, but his most recent arrest was in Pennington County in December for eluding, failing to stop and not having proper license plates. ...read more read less
