False Report of Shots Fired Leads to Arrest in White
- Steve Jurrens
- May 3
- 1 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – White, SD - A White, SD man was arrested Saturday evening after investigators determined he fabricated a report of being shot at while driving between Brookings and White, according to the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were called at 6:35 p.m. on May 2 after a resident reported that his roommate, 26‑year‑old Elijah Arias, had allegedly come under fire while traveling in the area. Arias provided deputies and the South Dakota Highway Patrol with a description of a suspect vehicle and individuals he claimed were involved.
During follow‑up interviews in Brookings — including contact with owners of vehicles similar to the one Arias described — investigators determined the incident never occurred.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Arias had been driving his roommate’s vehicle when he fired a Colt 1911 handgun out the window into a ditch, with one round striking the vehicle. Authorities say Arias panicked and then fabricated the story.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that there was no threat to the public at any time.
Arias was arrested for False Report, a Class 1 misdemeanor. He was booked into the Brookings County Detention Center and later released on a personal recognizance bond.
Assisting agencies included the Brookings Police Department and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
