First Hand Look At Search For Burglary Suspects

Huron PD Officer Derek Layher

Performance Radio News had a unique front row seat to the investigation that led to the arrest of three suspects in a burgalry spree that stretched three counties wide Friday. Officer Derek Layher hosted the final ride along session granted to Performance Radio News as a part of enrollement in the Citizen’s Police Academy. The search for the suspects was well under way when Layher got back on patrol at 3 PM Friday…

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Layher enquired about going back to dust for prints at the site of the Huron burglaries but the Friday afternoon work load prevented that…

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Later in the afternoon, a parking lot meeting between Layher, Segreant Brandon Neitzert and Deputy Chief Denny Meyer, laid out a plan of attack for recovering the female suspect. Neitzert explained why a press release would likely wait until Saturday for release…

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Meyer had new information and a new direction for Layher to head…

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After a parking lot search at the alleged employment location, Layher, Neitzert and Meyer took up location at a suspected residence on Mellette Avenue Southwest. With Meyer moving to the rear of the building and Neitzert to the north side, Layher attempted to make contact at the front door….

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Just before 7 PM and the end of Layher’s shift he drove to the Beadle County Jail where, Detectives Jamie Gogolin, Gene Miller, Patrol Captain Kevin Van Diepen and a Jerauld County Deputy were booking two Wessington Springs residents on multiple burglary counts