Rural Ellsworth native Tyson Wessels, 42, was arrested Friday night in Yankton, South Dakota, after two days on the run from law enforcement.
According to information from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Wessels escaped custody Tuesday during transport with another inmate from a court appearance in Turner County to the Minnehaha County Jail.
Authorities say Wessels assaulted a Turner County deputy on Interstate 29 near the Harrisburg exit and stole the patrol car.
He then drove to a field near Worthing, South Dakota, where he left the squad car and the other inmate and stole a 2004 Ford pickup.
That night he drove to the acreage of Derek and Holly Sammons near Steen where he stole a Chrysler Town and Country minivan.
Surveillance cameras captured the burglary — Wessels entering the house and emerging with a canned beverage, and at that point Rock County law enforcement got involved in the case.
According to Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, it is believed Wessels drove the minivan to his aunt’s home near Ellsworth and left a note apologizing for embarrassing his family.
At some point, he received help with removing his shackles and with a change of clothes. He reportedly stole boots and shoes from the Sammons residence.
On Friday night Wessels was arrested in Yankton on charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement, kidnapping, two counts of escape from custody, grand theft, and two counts of simple assault on law enforcement.
He reportedly also had warrants out of Yankton County for contempt of court and Clay County for first-degree reckless burning and accessory to a felony.
Wessels was arrested and charged on several counts earlier in September for his role in what Lincoln County authorities called a “multi-county crime spree” after a pursuit through Tea resulted in him ramming a squad car. He was later apprehended on a stolen motorcycle outside of Tea.
Wessels is currently being held in the Yankton County Jail, and more charges may be pending.