UPDATE at 4PM – Behlage was booked into the Pennington County Jail at 2:20pm on charges of possession of a firearm with prior felony drug conviction and receiveing stolen property. His court date is set for Wednesday at 10am.
RAPID CITY, SD – A report of an armed individual led to a significant law enforcement response and the temporary secure status of two local elementary schools Tuesday afternoon in Rapid City.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. on April 28, officers with the Rapid City Police Department were dispatched to the 200 block of Knollwood Drive. A reporting party told dispatchers they observed a male subject brandishing a handgun and expressed concern that he was preparing to shoot someone.
Due to the proximity of the incident to the schools, both Knollwood Elementary and General Beadle Elementary were placed into a precautionary secure status while officers flooded the area.
Upon arrival, police identified the suspect, who immediately fled on foot. During the pursuit, officers witnessed the man attempting to discard the firearm by throwing it onto the roof of a nearby building.
The suspect was apprehended shortly after and identified as Ziad Belhage, 27, of Rapid City.
Following an investigation, authorities determined that Belhage is currently on federal probation and has a prior felony drug conviction. These factors legally prohibit him from possessing any firearms.
The discarded weapon was successfully recovered by officers. A records check revealed the handgun had been reported stolen during a vehicle burglary in Rapid City earlier this year in February.
Belhage was arrested and transported to the Pennington County Jail. He faces charges of receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm with a prior felony drug conviction.
UPDATE 4PM
RAPID CITY, SD – A report of an armed individual led to a significant law enforcement response and the temporary secure status of two local elementary schools Tuesday afternoon in Rapid City.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. on April 28, officers with the Rapid City Police Department were dispatched to the 200 block of Knollwood Drive. A reporting party told dispatchers they observed a male subject brandishing a handgun and expressed concern that he was preparing to shoot someone.
Due to the proximity of the incident to the schools, both Knollwood Elementary and General Beadle Elementary were placed into a precautionary secure status while officers flooded the area.
Upon arrival, police identified the suspect, who immediately fled on foot. During the pursuit, officers witnessed the man attempting to discard the firearm by throwing it onto the roof of a nearby building.
The suspect was apprehended shortly after and identified as Ziad Belhage, 27, of Rapid City.
Following an investigation, authorities determined that Belhage is currently on federal probation and has a prior felony drug conviction. These factors legally prohibit him from possessing any firearms.
The discarded weapon was successfully recovered by officers. A records check revealed the handgun had been reported stolen during a vehicle burglary in Rapid City earlier this year in February.
Belhage was arrested and transported to the Pennington County Jail. He faces charges of receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm with a prior felony drug conviction.
