AG: Officers Justified In Shooting

by KDLT News
November 13, 2012 5:19 PM


South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Tuesday that a highway patrol trooper and sheriff's deputies were justified in firing their weapons during a pursuit in Sioux Falls that left the trooper critically injured.

Jackley released his review of the incident that occurred Oct. 17. The suspect in the pursuit, 25-year-old Rachel Coleman, faces a long list of charges, incuding attempted murder and drunken driving. Trooper Andrew Steen remains hospitalized with severe head and leg injuries.

The review revealed new details from the pursuit. Trooper Steen fired several rounds at Coleman in the parking lot of The Bridges, a shopping complex at 57th Street and Western Avenue in Sioux Falls, while she accelerated toward him with her vehicle. Coleman drove her vehicle into a store front, backed out, and drove toward Steen again.

Steen fired again at Coleman. Jackley says Steen fired a total of seven shots. Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Bartscher also fired his weapon at Coleman twice. Coleman continued accelerating and struck Steen, forcing him onto its hood.

Another Lincoln County Deputy, Tom Krull, was attempting to set up road spikes when he also fired his weapon at Coleman's vehicle. The spikes did not deploy. Krull fired his gun a total of 14 times.

Coleman continued from the shopping center before stopping near 47th Street and Western Avenue. She was struck at least three times--once in the back, once in her upper right arm, and a third bullet fell out of her clothing.