Weapons call was car backfiring

A weapons call was made Feb. 19 at 2:10 p.m. The incident occurred on Ray Smith Drive about three and a half miles up Deerfield Road. 

Pennington County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputy Doug Kimball said, “The ranch hands out at High Country Guest Ranch thought that someone was shooting out the window at them.”

There was no description of the driver or the gun although it was presumed to be a rifle.

Since it started as a weapons call, three units came from Rapid City to support Kimball and PCSO deputy Keith Fenner. Two highway patrolmen in the area responded as well. The vehicle in question was an old, blue GMC Suburban traveling southeast toward Hill City.

Kimball saw the vehicle coming up Deerfield Road at a high rate of speed at 2:20 p.m. By the time he turned around on it and got back into Hill City, he no longer saw it. Units began looking south toward Custer and north on Hwy. 385. 

“Hence why the Highway Patrol helped get involved,” said Kimball. “It turns out they had just turned right onto Ponderosa.”

The vehicle was located at 3:10 p.m. parked in front of an apartment on Ponderosa Avenue. The occupant, who was not a resident of this property, was interviewed along with other witnesses. Kimball also walked the road looking for any evidence of shooting, which did not exist. 

“After searching the vehicle and speaking with the occupant of that vehicle, no weapons were found,” said Fenner. “We determined that there were no shots fired from the vehicle.”

“It turned out to be a very old GMC Suburban that backfired several times going down the road,” said Kimball. “There is no danger to the public. Not then and not now as a result of that call.”

“No weapons or less lethal options were displayed. No emergency lights or sirens were activated on Ponderosa Avenue. No one was detained with handcuffs,” said Fenner. 

What started as a weapons call ended up being an engine backfiring. 

“I appreciate that they (the residents of Ponderosa Avenue) followed officer instructions at the time,” said Kimball. “I’d be happy to answer questions as we go.”