Rape, Assault Suspect Appears In Court

by KDLT News
September 14, 2012 4:24 PM


The suspect in a police standoff Thursday in Sioux Falls that lasted nearly an hour made his first appearance in court Friday.

Among the charges 40-year-old Michael Williams of Marty faces are aggravated assault, second degree rape, and kidnapping.

Police say Tuesday, Williams met up with an ex-girlfriend at the Rushmore Motel and assaulted her, punching her and trying to strangle her. He later went to her apartment in central Sioux Falls and sexually assaulted the 32-year-old woman.

Officials say Williams made threats to hurt himself when officers arrived at the apartment, so police began a standoff that ended with Williams leaving the building on his own.

Public Information Officer Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department says the decision to call in SWAT and other law enforcement agencies is based on several factors and is ultimately a judgment call by lead officers on scene.

"Officers are used to talking to people and trying to get them to do things. If it's going to be a long, drawn out process, that's usually when they're going to activate the SWAT team and negotiators, or if there's some type of mention of a weapon,” said Clemens.

Williams also faces drug charges because officers say they found a meth pipe in one of his bags. Bond is set at $250,000.