Yankton sheriff: 2 arrested after officials use ‘chemical agents’ on Lesterville home

YANKTON, S.D. (KCAU) — Two people were arrested in Lesterville Monday night after authorities learned a wanted man had been seen in Yankton County.

According to a release from the Yankton County Sheriff’s Office, authorities learned Monday that a man, Jason Lee Sitzman, 48, had warrants for his arrest and was last seen in Yankton County. Authorities said Sitzman is a “known absconder from Polk County, Iowa and has a no bond warrant.”

Sitzman had warrants out of Yankton County as well for failure to appear in court and aggravated eluding of law enforcement. The Union County Sheriff’s Office was also investigating Sitzman for possible criminal offenses.

The sheriff’s office was able to narrow down Sitzman’s location to the town of Lesterville. Around 7 p.m., law enforcement determined that he was at a residence near the intersection of Wagner Avenue and Railroad Street in Lesterville.

Authorities tried to make contact with Sitzman, but he refused to exit peacefully, the release said. The homeowner left the residence unharmed. Law enforcement then learned that a woman was with Sitzman in the home.

Later in the night at around 10:45 p.m., authorities “dispersed chemical agents” in the home. Minutes later, Sitzman and the woman, later identified as Kendra Elizabeth Kirrman, 23, left the home peacefully.

Sitzman and Kirrman were arrested and charged with obstructing law enforcement.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) had said that Sitzman fled police in South Dakota and Nebraska in late June. At the time, the South Dakota Highway Patrol informed the Nebraska State Patrol that it was in pursuit of a motorcycle traveling south toward Nebraska. The SD trooper cancelled the pursuit at the Nebraska border.

Hours later, the NSP learned that the suspect may be at the Chalkrock Wildlife Management Area in northern Cedar County. While authorities found the motorcycle, Sitzman could not be located.

The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Yankton Police Department, Yankton County EMS, Lesterville Fire Department, Yankton County Emergency Management, and Yankton Dispatch Command assisted the sheriff’s office.

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