SIOUX FALLS, SD - Police Chief Jon Thum confirmed that a man wanted on multiple felony charges shot a Sioux Falls police officer near 12th Street and Elmwood Avenue and then stole a vehicle before he was shot and apprehended on Interstate 29.
According to reports, Thum said that the officer who was shot was transported to a local hospital after he was shot in the arm. The officer is in his early 30s and has been with the Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) for about 10 years. The chief said that the suspected shooter has been identified as 25-year-old Samir Yasser Albaidhani.
Thum said that Albaidhani is a "parole absconder" with "numerous warrants in multiple different counties." Those warrants include charges of burglary, motor vehicle theft, aggravated eluding, and "other license violations." The shooting incident took place on Tuesday, April 1st.
The incident began around 4:00 p.m. when officers with the SFPD violent crime unit attempted to take Albaidhani into custody, when he began shooting at officers. Thum said that officers returned fire, and one officer was struck in the arm. Albaidhani fled the scene and stole an occupied vehicle that officers believe had been left running before he drove out of Sioux Falls.
During a press conference, South Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Robert Mayor said that Albaidhani was apprehended on Interstate 29 near the Beresford exit, in Union County. The South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Union County Sheriff's Office (UCSO) then aided in apprehending the suspect.
Albaidhani was also shot and taken by ambulance to an area hospital. As of Tuesday evening, his condition was unknown. South Dakota Attorney General's Office Communications Director Tony Mangan said that the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation is investigation the incident.
Thum said that when faced with an incident where a suspect brandishes a weapon, officers respond to "what the suspect provides," which in this case was a firearm. He added, "We are very fortunate that this is, an officer being shot is a unique circumstance for our community. But we don't take that for granted."
Thum said that the police department has not had an officer shot since the 1980s. He said, "But it's something that we worry about constantly. We train and prepare and know the reality of what can take place in our job. But, again, that's something that we obviously take very seriously."
A press release from the Attorney General's Office said, "After the investigation are complete, the DCI will issue shooting summaries for both cases." According to KELOLAND, the Attorney General's Office also said that the DCI is investigating two separate incidents involving Albaidhani. There are 20 DCI officers involved in that investigation.
Court records show that Albaidhani was placed on parole on October 26, 2024. He had been sentenced in 2019 in Minnehaha County on burglary and grand theft charges. His most recent arrest was for eluding, failing to stop, and no proper license plates in Pennington County.
According to reports, Thum said that the officer who was shot was transported to a local hospital after he was shot in the arm. The officer is in his early 30s and has been with the Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) for about 10 years. The chief said that the suspected shooter has been identified as 25-year-old Samir Yasser Albaidhani.
Thum said that Albaidhani is a "parole absconder" with "numerous warrants in multiple different counties." Those warrants include charges of burglary, motor vehicle theft, aggravated eluding, and "other license violations." The shooting incident took place on Tuesday, April 1st.
The incident began around 4:00 p.m. when officers with the SFPD violent crime unit attempted to take Albaidhani into custody, when he began shooting at officers. Thum said that officers returned fire, and one officer was struck in the arm. Albaidhani fled the scene and stole an occupied vehicle that officers believe had been left running before he drove out of Sioux Falls.
During a press conference, South Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Robert Mayor said that Albaidhani was apprehended on Interstate 29 near the Beresford exit, in Union County. The South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Union County Sheriff's Office (UCSO) then aided in apprehending the suspect.
Albaidhani was also shot and taken by ambulance to an area hospital. As of Tuesday evening, his condition was unknown. South Dakota Attorney General's Office Communications Director Tony Mangan said that the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation is investigation the incident.
Thum said that when faced with an incident where a suspect brandishes a weapon, officers respond to "what the suspect provides," which in this case was a firearm. He added, "We are very fortunate that this is, an officer being shot is a unique circumstance for our community. But we don't take that for granted."
Thum said that the police department has not had an officer shot since the 1980s. He said, "But it's something that we worry about constantly. We train and prepare and know the reality of what can take place in our job. But, again, that's something that we obviously take very seriously."
A press release from the Attorney General's Office said, "After the investigation are complete, the DCI will issue shooting summaries for both cases." According to KELOLAND, the Attorney General's Office also said that the DCI is investigating two separate incidents involving Albaidhani. There are 20 DCI officers involved in that investigation.
Court records show that Albaidhani was placed on parole on October 26, 2024. He had been sentenced in 2019 in Minnehaha County on burglary and grand theft charges. His most recent arrest was for eluding, failing to stop, and no proper license plates in Pennington County.
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Comments
2025-04-06T10:33-0400 | Comment by: James
The judges that let these creeps go need to start serving the same jail time as their buddy's they let go!