Lakota drum group helps usher in Attorney General’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons office
South Dakota’s top law enforcement officials welcomed Rapid City’s Wambli Ska Society to Pierre on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, for song and ceremonies to help launch the Attorney General’s new position for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.


Three sentenced in cases tied to Mitchell fatal shooting
Attorney General Mark Vargo and Davison County State’s Attorney James Miskimins announce that all three defendants who faced charges in cases surrounding the shooting death of Adalberto Ferrer-Machado in Mitchell, S.D., have been sentenced to the state penitentiary.


Attorney General, DCI Release Highway Patrol Trooper involved shooting summary
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Thursday released the summary of the July 14, 2022, Highway Patrol Trooper involved shooting that occurred in Madison, S.D.


DCI conducting investigation into Butte County Structure Fire and Death
On Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at around 5:30 A.M., Belle Fourche Fire Services were dispatched to a residence at 19145 Canyon Lane in Butte County for a structure fire.


AG Mark Vargo announces Hughes County State’s Attorney Jessica LaMie will investigate Government Accountability Board complaint
The S.D. Government Accountability Board has informed the Office of the Attorney General that it has voted to refer Complaint No. 2021-04 involving South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to the Attorney General’s office for investigation by the Division of Criminal Investigation.


Attorney General, DCI Release Sioux Falls Police Department shooting summary
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Thursday released the summary of the July 11, 2022, officer involved shooting that occurred in Sioux Falls, S.D., 309 North Cleveland Avenue by two Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) Officers.


Attorney General Mark Vargo Announces Settlement of JUUL Youth Vaping Suit
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo announced today a $438.5 million agreement in principle between JUUL Labs and 34 states and territories resolving a two-year bipartisan investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer’s marketing and sales practices.


Attorney General, DCI Release Sioux Falls Police Department shooting summary
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Friday released the summary of the June 22, 2022, officer involved shooting that occurred in Sioux Falls, S.D. near 4208 West 41st Street by a Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) Detective.


Attorney General Mark Vargo announces settlement of Medicaid kick-back suit
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo announced today that South Dakota has joined 34 other states in settling allegations of kickbacks paid to referring providers against Essilor International, Essilor of America Inc., Essilor Laboratories of America Inc., and Essilor Instruments USA (Essilor), headquartered in Dallas.


DCI Forensic Examiner honored for work fighting human trafficking
DCI Forensic Examiner Hollie Strand has earned the Freedom Fighter Award for her work combatting human trafficking by the advocacy group Freedom’s Journey.


Attorney General, DCI Release Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force Shooting Summary
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Friday released the summary of the August 9, 2022, officer involved shooting of Jacob Michael James of Sioux Falls, 21, by a Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) Detective and a Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Investigator after he (James) pointed a firearm and shot at the MCSO Investigator multiple times.


ATTORNEY GENERAL RELEASES EXPLANATION FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA CONSTITUTION ON ABORTIONS
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo has released the following Attorney General’s explanation for the November 2024 general election.


Attorney General, DCI Release Sioux Falls SWAT Team Involved Shooting Summary
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Friday released the summary of the officer involved shooting of Glenn Nisich of Sioux Falls, 57, by a Sioux Falls Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member on July 3, 2022 in Sioux Falls.


Jerauld County Man Sentenced in First Degree Manslaughter Case
Attorney General Mark Vargo and Jerauld County States Attorney Dedrich Koch announce that Mitch LeRoy Caffee, Wessington Springs, 39, pled guilty to one count of first degree manslaughter, a Class C felony, and one count of Aggravated Assault, a Class 3 Felony and was sentenced today to life in the state penitentiary on the first degree manslaughter conviction and 15 years in the state penitentiary on the aggravated assault conviction, with the sentence to run concurrent.


ATTORNEY GENERAL RELEASES DRAFT EXPLANATION FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA CONSTITUTION
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo has released the following Attorney General’s ballot draft explanation for the November 2024 general election.


Attorney General, DCI Release Rapid City Police Department Officer Involved Shooting Summary
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and the Division of Criminal Investigation Friday released the summary of the officer involved shooting of Shania Watkins, 32, of Rapid City by a Rapid City Police Department (RCPD) officer on May 31, 2022 in Rapid City. The summary found that the officer involved in the shooting was justified in using lethal force.


New South Dakota’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse Website Released
An updated South Dakota Missing Persons Clearinghouse website is now operational according to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.


DCI, State’s Attorney Charge Two Suspects In Pursuit, Officer Involved Shooting
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and Lake County State’s Attorney Wendy Kloeppner say the two suspects arrested July 14 in connection with a high-speed pursuit and officer involved shooting have now been indicted on four different counts, including two counts each of attempted first-degree murder.


Chad Mosteller Named Division of Criminal Investigation’s Interim Director
South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo has named Chad Mosteller as the interim Director of the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) effective immediately.


DCI, State's Attorney Charge Two Suspects In Pursuit, Officer Involved Shooting
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo and Lake County State’s Attorney Wendy Kloeppner say two men have been charged today (Friday) in connection with the high-speed pursuit and officer involved shooting that took place Thursday in Lake, Minnehaha and Moody Counties.


New Attorney General Praises Staff In First Meeting
On his first day in office, South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo encouraged his new staff Wednesday to keep doing what they are doing for the people of South Dakota.