By By Fredie Carmichael/The Meridian Star
July 7, 2001
A 44-year-old man wanted by the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department on aggravated assault and statutory rape charges was captured Thursday after an eight-hour standoff with law enforcement officers in Hettinger, N.D.
Daniel L. Witt had also been charged with aggravated assault and intimidating a witness by the Meridian Police Department.
Witt led Adams County, N.D., deputies on a high-speed pursuit after the officers attempted to serve Witt with the outstanding arrest warrants from Lauderdale County. The pursuit ended in a cattle pasture 4 miles north of Bison, S.D.
Six additional units from across the state of South Dakota responded to the call for help. Gov. William Janklow also called out the South Dakota National Guard and South Dakota State Radio.
Serr said that during the eight-hour standoff, Witt demanded to be left alone and threatened anyone who tried to get near him.
Witt is in custody at the Perkins County Jail, where he is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a felon, felon in possession of a police scanner and eluding police. Bail has been set at $250,000.
Fredie Carmichael is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3228, or e-mail him at fcarmichael@themeridianstar.com.