SOUTH DAKOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL MARTY JACKLEY SAYS THE STATE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION HAS DETERMINED THAT A BERESFORD POLICE OFFICER WAS JUSTIFIED IN HIS USE OF FORCE DURING A NOVEMBER 21 TRAFFIC STOP IN BERESFORD.
JACKLEY SAYS “THE PERSON INVOLVED REFUSED TO OBEY THE COMMANDS OF THE OFFICER AND POINTED A LOADED GUN AT THE OFFICER.
THE OFFICER WAS JUSTIFIED IN THE USE OF FORCE TO PROTECT HIMSELF AND OTHERS.”
THE OFFICER STOPPED AN S-U-V FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION THAT WAS DRIVEN BY 36-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER JOHN PEARSON OF BROOKINGS.
WHEN THE OFFICER APPROACHED THE VEHICLE, HE DETECTED THE ODOR OF ALCOHOL AND SAW AN OPEN CONTAINER.
PEARSON BECAME COMBATIVE ONCE HE LEFT HIS VEHICLE AS INSTRUCTED.
THE OFFICER HAD TO PUSH PEARSON TOWARDS THE PATROL VEHICLE, AND AS HE WAS BEING PLACED UNDER ARREST, PEARSON TOOK THE OFFICER’S HANDCUFFS AND STARTED WALKING BACK TO HIS S-U-V.
WHEN PEARSON REFUSED THE OFFICER’S VERBAL COMMANDS, THE OFFICER FIRED HIS TASER TWICE AT PEARSON, BUT THE SUSPECT DID NOT STOP.
PEARSON REACHED HIS VEHICLE AND TOOK A 9MM DERRINGER STYLE, TWO-BARRELED PISTOL FROM THE TRUCK AND POINTED IT AT THE OFFICER.
THE OFFICER FIRED HIS WEAPON, STRIKING PEARSON WHO WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
PEARSON WAS A CONVICTED FELON WITH SEVERAL PRIOR FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS.
THIS WAS THE SEVENTH OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN SOUTH DAKOTA THIS YEAR.
PHOTO FROM SD ATTY GENERAL
