HARTFORD, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Minnehaha County authorities say that a drug suspect tried to escape a police cordon by ramming his stolen vehicle through an apartment building garage in Hartford, causing a big fire.
Captain Jason Gearman says up to 70 firefighters had to be called in.
"Numerous people have lost their vehicles, their property that was in the garages, because this guy didn't want to stop for the police and was willing to do anything to get away," Gearman says that before he crashed through the garage, the man rammed a law enforcement pickup.
Gearman says this man is the complete opposite of the so-called non-violent offender; his full-time job is basically stealing to buy meth or to sell it, and he's threatened police in the past.
James Joseph Lanpher Jr., 36, is jailed for aggravated assault against law enforcement, along with the original warrant for meth possession.
Garages were damaged by the fire and some vehicles, but firefighters were able to stop the blaze from spreading to the apartments.