Operation: Prairie Thunder Concludes 10th Round of Saturation Patrols in Brookings

Northeast Radio SD News - Brookings, SD - The 10th set of saturation patrols under Operation: Prairie Thunder (OPT) on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The two-day operation in Brookings focused on interdicting criminal activity and enhancing road safety through shared regional resources.

Brookings Operation Results

The Brookings deployment, conducted on Jan. 6 and 7, resulted in 13 individuals being taken into custody. Of those arrested, four faced drug-related charges, while nine were detained on non-drug offenses.

Law enforcement reported the following statistics for the Brookings patrol:

·        Total Drug Charges: 25 (6 felony, 19 misdemeanor).

·        Individuals with Drug Charges: 17 total, with 13 of those individuals cited and released (POA).

·        Traffic Enforcement: 85 citations and 268 warnings issued.

·        Additional Totals: 6 DUI arrests and 5 contacts for driving with a revoked license.

·        Seizures: $50 in U.S. currency was seized during the two days.

Cumulative Success of Operation: Prairie Thunder

Since its launch in late July 2025, Operation: Prairie Thunder has completed 10 separate saturation patrols across South Dakota communities, including Sioux Falls, Huron, Yankton, Belle Fourche, and most recently, Brookings.

To date, the initiative has led to the custody of 432 individuals statewide. Cumulative data from all 10 operations shows:

·        Drug-Related Activity: 1,084 total drug charges filed, including 314 felony and 770 misdemeanor charges.

·        Warrants Served: 247 total warrants executed (80 felony and 167 misdemeanor).

·        Overall Custody: 275 individuals in custody had a drug charge, while 157 were held for non-drug-related offenses.

Multi-Agency Collaboration

Operation: Prairie Thunder is a targeted public safety initiative of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety. The program is designed to allow city, county, and federal partners to share intelligence and support community-based safety efforts.

“Operation: Prairie Thunder continues to do great work to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free,” Governor Larry Rhoden previously stated regarding the program’s expansion into diverse regions of the state.