CHAMBERLAIN -- A Fort Thompson man was charged last weekend with robbing two people at gunpoint and obstructing police in Chamberlain.
Rashawn Pease, 20, faces two counts of first-degree robbery and two misdemeanor charges for incidents that allegedly took place on Oct. 18 and 19, as well as three additional misdemeanor counts for allegedly stealing alcohol and fleeing police on Oct. 7.
At about 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 18, police responded to a man outside a Chamberlain restaurant who said Pease had pulled a gun on him and taken his phone, headphones and skateboard, then fled on foot, heading north on South Main Street, according to court documents. The man reportedly also said another man had been with Pease, though court documents do not indicate charges have been filed against him.
While the responding officer spoke with the man, Mitchell dispatchers reported a second armed robbery in Chamberlain. Descriptions given by both reporting parties allegedly matched and fit Pease's description. The second man reportedly said Pease had not taken anything from him.
While speaking to the second man, the officer reportedly heard a fight near a bar and saw Pease while walking toward the bar. Pease allegedly ran away.
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After speaking with people at several local residences, police were called to a South Main Street apartment where Pease was reportedly found sleeping.
While Pease was being transported to the Brule County Jail, he allegedly waived his Miranda Rights and said after getting into a fight at the bar, he had run because he was worried he'd get in trouble for fighting and underage drinking. He reportedly denied using a gun, and authorities did not find a gun when searching his coat and a bag he was reported to have had with him during the alleged robberies.
Following his arrest, Pease was also charged with underage drinking, stealing $61.35 in alcoholic beverages from the bar and fleeing law enforcement, all of which are alleged to have occurred on Oct. 7.
If convicted on all charges in both cases, Pease could face more than 52 years in prison.
