He rammed two deputies and a witness with a stolen vehicle. And then he led authorities from two states on a four-hour pursuit that ended in rural Lincoln County.
34-year-old Tyson Shawn Wessels of Chancellor is now behind bars, charged with third degree burglary and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.
Authorities say Wessels was trying to steal an ATM from the Pumphouse convenience store in Valley Springs around 5 a.m Friday when a neighbor heard the alarm and called authorities.
Wessels knew the witness was calling authorities when the burglary was taking place in Valley Springs and that's why authorities say Wessels rammed into the witness’ vehicle.
At some point Wessels then ditched that vehicle and then stole a MidWestern Mechanical vehicle.
Minnehaha County Sheriff's Deputies spotted that pick-up truck on the corner of three states, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.
When the deputy tried to stop Wessels he put the truck in reverse and rammed the deputy. Fearing for his life, the deputy fired off three shots into the back of the pick up.
Wessels then took off into Iowa, but officials were able to track the suspect because the MidWestern Mechanical trucks are equipped with GPS.
Wessels came back to South Dakota and after a two hour pursuit through several corn fields they caught up with him at a rural farm.
Wessels then ditched the truck near the Lincoln County farmhouse and then ran into a nearby corn field.
Bullet holes from the Minnehaha County Deputy who shot at Wessels could be seen on the back of the truck.
Authorities were able to disable the truck and they caught Wessels while he was on foot.
The pursuit also involved two planes from the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Iowa State Patrol. Authorities say without the planes and the GPS, it would have been very difficult to find Wessels.
"I think if we didn't have the aircraft we might still be looking for him in one of the cornfields, so that was key,” Lincoln County Sheriff Dennis Johnson said
Wessels also rammed into a Lyon County, Iowa deputy when he was eluding officials in that state.
The owner of the Pumphouse says Wessels wasn't able to make off with the ATM and nothing else from his store is missing.
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