Skip to main content

Rock County involved with arrest of South Dakota kidnapper

Subhead
Local farmers help locate suspect on abandoned acreage near state line
Lead Summary
By
Lori Sorenson

Rock County deputies were involved Tuesday morning in the arrest of a South Dakota kidnapping suspect who led authorities on a pursuit from Sioux Falls to western Rock County.
The suspect was apprehended around 9:30 a.m. just over the border into South Dakota after Rock County farmers reported a car speeding down a gravel road into an abandoned acreage.
According to Officer Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department, a woman in Sioux Falls called 911 at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to report a man had kidnapped her and forced her into the trunk of a car.
Guided by her cell phone GPS and the description of the car, an Oldsmobile Alero, Sioux Falls officers located the suspect and a pursuit ensued from Sioux Falls west on I-90 into Minnesota.
The suspect reportedly turned north on Highway 23 for several miles and then continued west on gravel roads back into South Dakota.
Minnehaha and Rock County deputies and South Dakota and Minnesota Troopers assisted with the pursuit.
Rock County farmers Dick and Teresa Kramer were harvesting corn nearby when Teresa noticed a silver car speed up the driveway of an abandoned acreage owned by their neighbor.
“We knew it wasn’t Carlsons, and we wondered about calling them,” Teresa said.
She said they quickly decided to call the Sheriff’s Office when they noticed squad cars in the area. “We figured maybe they were looking for this car,” she said.
The tip led Rock County deputies to the acreage about 1 1/2 miles west of the Palisade Lutheran Church on Highway 23. They and other law enforcement officers cornered the suspect on the acreage, and he was apprehended a bit later after he reportedly attempted to flee through nearby fields. The address of the acreage, owned by Bruce Carlson, is 4877 240th St. in South Dakota.
Jon Henri Bryant Sr., 60, was arrested and later charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, stalking, grand theft (for stealing the victim’s car) and other offenses.
Authorities said Bryant, the victim’s ex-boyfriend, was waiting in her garage where he attacked her. Reports say he punched and strangled her, among other things.
The victim, age 37, suffered non-life threatening injuries. Bryant is in custody.
The Kramers said they were glad to have helped with the arrest, but said it was a simple matter of something seeming to be not right in their neighborhood.
“I’ve been at township meetings with the county where they tell us, ‘If anything looks out of place, call,’” Teresa said. “Well, this definitely seemed out of place.”

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.