WAGNER -- The Yankton Sioux Tribal Police arrested a man following a high-speed chase Saturday involving Wagner and tribal police.
Ray Gunhammer Jr., whose age was unavailable, will be charged with two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement with a deadly weapon, which is a felony. The maximum penalty for each assault charge is 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, upon conviction. Gunhammer was also charged with reckless eluding, a misdemeanor, and other charges, according to law enforcement.
Wagner Police Chief Tim Simonsen said Gunhammer, who had violated his parole and had several warrants for aggravated assault of an officer, was spotted with a female passenger in Wagner. Simonsen and Officer DesaRae Gravatt arrived at the location of Gunhammer's van in the Alco parking lot on the west side of town and ordered him to stop. Gunhammer and the passenger switched places, and the female began driving and attempted to flee, hitting the patrol vehicle.
Officers pursued Gunhammer west out of Wagner, in a chase that reached around 100 mph on gravel roads, Simonsen said. Wagner police pursued the vehicle until the van crossed onto Yankton Sioux Tribal ground, near Marty, where Yankton Sioux Tribal Police took over. Gunhammer then exited the vehicle and ran into a house where he was arrested.
"It was just another one of those cases where we worked really well with the tribal police," Simonsen said.
