FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN FREEMAN OCT. 10
A fugitive from justice out of Harmon County, Okla. wanted for felony child abuse was arrested in Freeman Friday afternoon, Oct. 10 after a strong police presence surrounded at a home at 901 S. Dewald Street.
Gary Bunt, an enforcement supervisor with the United State Marshals Service for the state of South Dakota, said Jeremiah Driver, 47, was taken into custody without incident and was booked by Hutchinson County law enforcement in the Yankton County Jail.
He is currently awaiting extradition to Oklahoma to face state charges.
Additionally, Bunt said, three minors listed as missing children were taken into custody by Child Protection Services.
The incident unfolded around 3:30 p.m. last Friday after police converged at the home located in the southern portion of Freeman at the southwest corner of Dewald and College streets.
In addition to the U.S. Marshalls, responding units included the Freeman Police Department, the Hutchinson County Sheriff’s Office, as well as multiple officers with the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Bunt said Driver is suspected of fleeing Oklahoma with his domestic partner and her three children after the courts issued a warrant for his arrest on Sept. 24. The effort to locate the traveling party was initiated by the U.S. Marshalls service in Oklahoma and made its way to South Dakota the first week of October.
Bunt said authorities believe the connection with Freeman is through an acquaintance, and they identified Driver’s presence at the home through a vehicle he was suspected of driving. Bunt said police moved in after observing Driver on the property.
Barron Nankivel, police chief in Freeman, said he was made aware of the pending arrest that day and was part of the law enforcement team on the scene Friday afternoon.
There is no threat to the public, he said, and added that cooperation between multiple law enforcement agencies is critical to their call to “protect and serve.”
“The people of Freeman should know that there are other resources I can reach out to for help and assistance when necessary,” he said.
