RAPID CITY, S.D. – A Pennington County jury has found 31-year-old Richard Ingalls guilty of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer after he strangled a Rapid City Police officer in January 2024.
Ingalls, who was staying at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission, became aggressive, leading staff to call the police. Rapid City Police Officer Tanner Seaman was the first to arrive. When Seaman approached, Ingalls immediately assumed an aggressive stance. As the officer attempted to handcuff Ingalls for safety reasons, Ingalls resisted and grabbed Seaman’s neck gaiter, strangling him and restricting his airway. Seaman managed to punch Ingalls in self-defense before bystanders intervened to help free him.
The jury deliberated for just over two hours before returning a guilty verdict. “Rapid City police officers are assaulted at alarming rates. According to statistics kept by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office, officers in our community experience higher rates of assault than any other police department in the state. This must stop. The jury’s verdict sends a clear message that violence, especially against law enforcement officers in our community, will not be tolerated,” said Senior Deputy State’s Attorney Olivia Siglin. Siglin serves as the law enforcement liaison for the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office and prosecutes all law enforcement-related assaults.
Ingalls faces up to 25 years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine at his sentencing, scheduled for November 4, 2024. The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office thanked the jurors for their dedication and thoughtful deliberation in the case.
