The top 10 Sheriff’s Log moments from 2008

Jason Ferguson

Published: Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

The Custer County Sheriff’s Log is written each week by sheriff’s deputy Seth Thompson. These are the top 10 moments from the log for the year 2008, as voted on by the staff of the Custer County Chronicle. No. 10 “Next time, play it cool.” Friday, Jan. 4 1:14 a.m.: A deputy on patrol in downtown Custer noticed two men walking down the street who tried to hide when they saw him. After hailing the two and identifying them the deputy arrested one man on an active warrant. The moral of this story should be obvious. No. 9 “It was also a poophead.” Monday, July 14 12:02 a.m.: A deputy responded to a car versus deer accident on Highway 385 near the Fall River County line. Minor damage was done to the vehicle. A deputy dragged the dead deer off the highway, as the driver didn’t want to touch it, because it was “icky.” No. 8 “Some people don’t know when to quit.” Thursday, March 20 1:33 a.m.: A suspicious person was reported on Highway 16 west of Custer. The vehicle left the area before a deputy arrived, but he was not gone for good.  4:33 a.m.: The suspicious person was reported again, at another location on Highway 16 west of Custer. A deputy found the vehicle, and after some investigation arrested the driver, a 56-year-old Rapid City man, for possession of marijuana and having an open alcoholic beverage in his vehicle. Friday, March 21 12:49 a.m.: A report was received of a possibly intoxicated man passed out at a Custer convenience store. A deputy went there and found the man slumped over a beer display. After some further investigation he arrested the 56-year-old Rapid City man for driving under the influence of alcohol as he had driven his pickup to the store. Yes, it was the same 56-year-old Rapid City man that was arrested the previous morning for possession of marijuana. Some people don’t know when to quit.  No. 7 “It was trying to order a pizza.” Sunday, Nov. 16 8:41 a.m.: A 911 hang-up call was received from a residence in the Custer Limestone area. A deputy found the call to have been caused by a cat jumping on the telephone’s emergency button. The cat was admonished for its behavior. No. 6 “They undoubtedly made a clean getaway.” Tuesday, October 21 7:42 a.m.: Stolen dish soap was reported at a Custer residence. A suspect has been identified in this dastardly crime. No. 5 “They should have packed lighter.” Sunday, July 27 3:58 p.m.: Deputies checked on two hitch-hikers at a semi-popular Custer convenience store. The two were reportedly on their way to Sturgis for the Rally, bearing cardboard signs reading, “STURGIS PLEASE,” and “WE WON’T KILL YOU.” After some investigation, one of the vagabonds, a 21-year-old Florida man, was found to have a warrant from another state. This turned out to be a case of good and bad good news for him. The good news? The other state did not want to extradite him. The bad news was that deputies subsequently found a small quantity of hashish and more than half a pound of marijuana on his person and in his backpack. The unlucky hitch-hiker was arrested and charged appropriately. It is likely he will still be in South Dakota long after the Rally is over. No. 4 “But at least it can’t use the phone.” Sunday, Jan. 6 10:26 p.m.: A stray dog reportedly bit a woman at a residence on Spruce Street in Fairburn. The woman then trapped the dog in a bedroom. Deputies went there and attempted to play the Dog Whisperer by winning the pooch’s confidence, but were not successful. They eventually had to hook the dog with a capture pole and wrestle it into a cage. The suspect dog put up quite a fight, but was eventually captured and then transported to the pound in Custer to be quarantined. The bite victim suffered minor injuries to her hand and a lecture about not taking in stray dogs. No. 3 “Were they on their way to Sturgis?” Saturday, July 26 10:31 p.m.: A bag of marijuana was found on the floor of a Hermosa convenience store. Anyone who thinks they might have dropped their weed while dazed and confused in Hermosa should contact the sheriff’s office to claim it.  No. 2 “It’s too early for hatred.” Wednesday, March 12 5:50 a.m.: A person was reportedly walking down the center of Highway 16 near the Custer Golf Course. When asked by the reporting person what he was doing, the man replied that he was “escaping hatred.” Deputies arrived and advised the man to escape hatred somewhere else, lest he be run over.  No. 1 “Little did she know, Bigfoot lives closer to Fairburn.” Wednesday, Feb. 13 4:47 a.m.: A call was received from a stranded motorist somewhere on Highway 40 east of Hermosa. The caller’s vehicle had run out of gas, and she was “afraid that Bigfoot would get her.” A relative arrived and put gas in her vehicle before either deputies or Bigfoot arrived.