STURGIS, S.D. – The Meade County Sheriff’s Office says they have caught up with a burglary suspect they had been looking for since last night.
Earlier this morning, authorities say they received information indicating that Deja Guthmiller, 25, of Rapid City, may have returned to a family residence located in the 5500 block of Meadow Retreat Road in Piedmont.
Guthmiller, a wanted parole violator, was being sought in connection with a burglary and armed robbery in Pennington County and had been the subject of an extensive manhunt the previous evening.
Law enforcement was able to confirm Guthmiller’s presence inside the residence and based on this information, deputies obtained a search warrant, and South Dakota Parole Services issued an absconder warrant for his arrest.
Due to credible threats previously made by Guthmiller, combined with a recent history of violence, he was considered a significant risk to public safety.
Through coordinated efforts among multiple law enforcement agencies, Guthmiller was safely taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to the Pennington County Jail. Additional charges are pending.
Meade County Sheriff Pat West emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the importance of collaboration in bringing it to a safe resolution:
“This was a dangerous and rapidly evolving situation involving an individual with a demonstrated history of violence. The coordinated response by our partner agencies ensured that this threat was addressed quickly and safely, minimizing risk to our community. We are fortunate to have strong working relationships across jurisdictions that allow us to respond effectively in situations like this.”
Sheriff West also highlighted the broader team effort involved:
“While this incident required significant resources, other agencies stepped in to assist with unrelated calls for service throughout Meade County. This level of cooperation is critical in rural areas and reflects a shared commitment to public safety across western South Dakota.”
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office extends its appreciation to the following agencies for their assistance:
- South Dakota Highway Patrol
- Rapid City Police Department
- Pennington County Sheriff’s Office
- Sturgis Police Department
- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
- South Dakota Parole Services
- United States Marshals Service
- Meade County 911 Communications
- Pennington County 911 Communications
No further information will be released at this time.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
