RAPID CITY, S.D. — Officials with the Rapid City Police Department discussed a series of recent incidents during the latest episode of “Citizen’s Arrest,” including an airplane disturbance at Rapid City Regional Airport, bomb threats targeting local schools and an increase in juveniles gaining access to firearms through vehicle burglaries.

During the discussion, Community Relations Specialist Brendyn Medina said officers responded May 9 after receiving reports of a passenger attempting to force his way into the cockpit on a flight arriving in Rapid City. Medina said flight staff alerted law enforcement while the plane was inbound, allowing officers to meet the aircraft at the gate.

According to Medina, officers escorted the passenger from the plane without further incident and arrested him for disorderly conduct. Medina identified the man as 30 year old Krish Mishra of Rosemont, Illinois. He said the case information was also forwarded to the Department of Homeland Security for possible federal review. Medina noted that passengers onboard reportedly did not realize there had been a problem until officers boarded the aircraft. Lt. Kelvin Masur said incidents involving aircraft disruptions can lead to federal charges and possible long term travel restrictions. “It’s not a good idea,” Masur said while discussing attempts to access an aircraft cockpit.

The group also addressed a recent bomb threat made against Central High School. Medina said officers responded around 1 p.m. after a caller threatened to detonate a bomb at the school. Police worked with school officials to evacuate the building while explosive detection K-9 teams from Ellsworth Air Force Base searched the facility room by room. No explosives were found and classes resumed the following day. Medina said the investigation was turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He referenced a previous bomb threat case involving the South Dakota Mines in which a suspect from another country was extradited and prosecuted in the United States. Medina said the FBI has extensive experience investigating bomb threats and identifying suspects, even across international borders.

Much of the conversation focused on juveniles obtaining firearms through vehicle break ins. Masur said juveniles frequently target unlocked vehicles during overnight “car hopping” incidents, searching for valuables and firearms. He said even his own neighborhood was recently targeted, though his locked vehicle was not entered.

Police recently arrested a juvenile found with a heavily modified shotgun. Medina said one of the juveniles involved in that case was already on parole. Officers also recently arrested another parolee less than 10 hours after his release from prison after investigators found him drinking while driving and illegally possessing a stolen firearm that had been taken from an unlocked vehicle.

Medina urged residents not to leave firearms unsecured inside vehicles. “A vehicle is not a good gun safe,” Medina said, adding that inexpensive lock boxes are available for people who must temporarily store firearms in their cars. Masur also encouraged residents to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving keys inside.

The episode also touched on several other recent incidents, including the arrest of a man accused of throwing a rock through the glass door of a Rapid City business. Officers arrested the suspect for felony vandalism after locating him outside the business involved in a verbal altercation with an employee.

During a public question segment, Masur offered advice on how drivers should behave during traffic stops. He said sudden movements, reaching into glove boxes or delaying pulling over can raise concerns for officers because they do not know what a driver may be reaching for or attempting to hide. Masur encouraged drivers to pull over promptly, keep their hands visible and wait for instructions from officers.