On April 22nd at around 8:35 p.m., a police Lieutenant was arriving at the Public Safety Building in order to attend the nightshift briefing. As he arrived, he witnessed the occupants of a passing pickup break out the window of a Pennington County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle parked in front of the building. Police followed the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop in the area of 6th and Kansas City Street. The vehicle did not stop, and police pursued the vehicle. The pickup came to a stop in the parking lot at 805 5th Street. The occupants of the pickup were ordered out of the vehicle and two passengers complied. The driver refused repeated commands to exit the vehicle. At one point, the female driver exited the vehicle with her hands in her pockets. Officers observed a handgun tucked in her waistband. She then began getting back into the vehicle, and less-lethal beanbag shotgun rounds were discharged at her. Police continued commands for her to exit the vehicle. She again exited the vehicle with her hands in her pockets. The less-lethal beanbag shotgun was again deployed. Officers could no longer see the firearm in her waistband and an officer was able to run up and take her to the ground. She continued to be combative with police, and she was ultimately placed in the WRAP safety restraint system. She was identified as 21-year-old Rebecca Panych of Box Elder. She was placed under arrest for Felony Vandalism and Reckless Driving before being transported to the Pennington County Jail. It was later determined that a glass bottle had been thrown through the back window of the PCSO patrol vehicle.
The firearm was located in the vehicle and discovered to be an airsoft pistol designed to look like a real handgun.
