Pennington County law enforcement says a new interagency Parole Task Force is already making a significant impact. In just the first two weeks of operations, officers have made 40 arrests, including 35 parolees taken into custody for new crimes, outstanding warrants, or parole violations.
The task force launched April 15th and brings together the Rapid City Police Department, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Department of Corrections Parole Services, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Pennington County 911 Dispatch. Additional support has come from the Box Elder Police Department and the Meade County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials say the team is focused on locating parole absconders and offenders tied to recent criminal activity. Several high‑profile arrests have already taken place.
One of the most resource‑intensive cases involved Deja Guthmiller, wanted in connection with a robbery, vehicle burglary, vandalism, and the theft of two rifles. Guthmiller fled from officers multiple times before being arrested in Meade County after a Special Response Team was deployed. Investigators recovered two AR‑15‑style rifles connected to his crimes.
Two other parolees, Loretta Bettelyoun and Darren Richards, were arrested after being identified as suspects in an April 20th stabbing in Rapid City. Richards later shot and injured a Sioux Falls police officer before both were taken into custody.
The task force also arrested Christian Degeest, an absconder linked to a residence where six people were taken into custody on drug and warrant charges. A stolen trailer from a 2022 case was also recovered.
Other arrests include Gavin Hamilton, found with weapons and a missing woman inside his home; Tyler Nagel, accused of assaulting and strangling a woman; and Matthew Brewer, who fled from officers before being Tasered and arrested on warrants.
Law enforcement leaders say the early results show the task force is working as intended—removing high‑risk offenders from the community and strengthening public safety. Based on the success of the first two weeks, operations will continue across Pennington County.
