Police announce three arrests following standoff

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Police take Derik LaFromboise, 18, into custody at 11:30 a.m. Thursday behind 515 E. First Ave. in Mitchell. LaFromboise, Christopher Todd Zephier Jr. and Stella Lee Zephier were all arrested Thursday in connection with the theft of multiple vehicles in Mitchell. (Austin Kaus/Republic Photo)

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One of three people arrested Thursday for vehicle thefts in Mitchell was hauled out of a house after barricading himself inside and claiming he had a gun he was going to use to kill himself, according to police.

No gun was found with 18-year-old Derik LaFromboise, though, and he was quickly taken into custody. Also arrested Thursday were Christopher Todd Zephier Jr., 18, and Stella Lee Zephier, 35.

At 11:08 a.m. Thursday, local police issued an alert about a “critical incident” in progress and warned the public to stay away from the 500 block of East First Avenue. Police converged on a residence at 515 E. First.

Officers were given permission to enter the residence by tenants inside. Once inside, the officers found LaFromboise barricaded in an upstairs bathroom. LaFramboise stated he had a gun and was going to kill himself and refused to leave the bathroom.

Shortly after, officers were able to talk LaFramboise out of the bathroom and take him into custody.

During the standoff, the 500 block of East First Avenue was blocked off by police.

By 11:33 p.m., LaFromboise was in custody and the police had issued an alert stating the situation had been resolved.

Police declined to answer nearly all questions on the standoff and the arrests throughout the day, choosing instead to issue a news release Thursday evening.

LaFromboise is accused of stealing a Ford pickup from the 200 block of South Langdon sometime between Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, a transportation-type van between Dec. 1 and 2 in the 500 block of East Hanson and three vehicles on Tuesday. He is also accused of damaging and possessing one of the stolen vehicles from Tuesday.

LaFromboise also is accused in two incidents involving a pull-type camper in the 700 block of East Hanson. He is accused of entering the unsecured camper sometime between Dec. 1 and Thursday and taking clothing. He is accused of entering a locked camper on Thursday and removing two electronic devices.

Zephier Jr. is accused of stealing a vehicle and possessing three stolen vehicles on Tuesday. He is also accused of damaging two of the stolen vehicles.

Both LaFromboise and Zephier Jr. are accused of entering and stealing items from seven unsecured vehicles on Tuesday. Most of the stolen property from the vehicles was later discarded in a dumpster.

Zephier’s mother, Stella, is accused of helping the two men hide stolen items at her home and not reporting the felony crimes to law enforcement. She was found to have one of the stolen items on her person while she was being questioned by police.

LaFromboise has been charged with five counts of grand theft and eight counts of criminal entry into a motor vehicle, as well as one count each of possession of stolen property, intentional damage to property, aggravated criminal entry into a motor vehicle and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Zephier Jr. has been charged with seven counts of criminal entry into a motor vehicle, three counts of possession of stolen property, two counts of intentional damage to property and one count of grand theft.

Zephier’s mother has been charged with accessory to a crime and misprision of a felony.

Grand theft, intentional damage to property and possession of stolen property are all Class 4 felonies each punishable by a maximum of 10 years in the state penitentiary and a $20,000 fine. Aggravated criminal entry into a motor vehicle is Class 6 felony punishable by a maximum of two years in the penitentiary and a $4,000 fine. Criminal entry into a motor vehicle, obstructing a law enforcement officer and misprision of a felony are all Class 1 misdemeanors each punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Accessory to a crime is a Class 5 felony punishable by a maximum of five years in the penitentiary and a $10,000 fine.

The Mitchell Police Division, Davison County Sheriff’s Office and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation assisted in the investigation.

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