SF Police Search For Rape Suspect

by Ashley Kringen, Reporter
March 08, 2013 6:10 PM


Sioux Falls police are on the hunt for a 60-year-old man accused of raping an 8-year-old child.

Police said they believe the suspect is somewhere in the Sioux Falls area and they have asked for the public's help to find him.

Investigators said they believe a family member or friend is hiding this wanted man and police are warning people about the consequences of harboring a fugitive.

"Somebody's helping him, whether it be friends, family, we don't know at this point," said Gearman.

Sergeant Jason Gearman with the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office said investigators are looking for this man, Albert Wayne Armentrout, who is 60-years-old, with brown eyes, gray hair, weighing 200 pounds.

Armentrout is wanted on rape charges of an eight-year-old girl.

Sergeant Gearman is sending a warning to those helping Armentrout and said harboring a fugitive is considered a felony.

"If they're him, financially, physically any way. A lot of times people will be charged for that and arrested themselves," said Gearman.

Court documents said the alleged rape took place in 2012, at an apartment complex located on Southwest part of town.

The victim and her mother lived with Armentrout and his family, back in 2012.

Neither the suspect and his family nor the victim lives at this residence anymore.

Documents also said the victim called Armentrout "Grandpa Wayne," and told someone close to her about what happened.

"To a family friend that there was some sexual contact and that family friend ended up calling child protection services," said Clemens.

Officer Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department says police need to track down Armentrout, to talk to him about the incident.

"We're going to do what we can to verify that information and determine if what happened actually happened," said Clemens.

With tracking down a suspect taking a lot of time and resources, investigators are now asking reaching out to the public for help.

"Turn him in, tell us where he's at or the best thing would just be to have him walk in the front door of the jail and take care of it himself," said Gearman.

Court papers said investigators were able to track down Armentrout's wife and told her there were some allegations involving her husband being looked into.

Before officials told her specifics, she said, "Albert would not molest any of the children."

The victim in this case is no longer in South Dakota.