RAPID CITY, S.D. – Following two weekend incidents, the Rapid City Police Department is now investigating 12 business robberies which have taken place in the span of a month’s time.
On March 21st at around 10:40 p.m., police were dispatched to 1808 Mount Rushmore Road for a report of a robbery that had just occurred. Witnesses told police that an unknown male subject had entered the casino through a rear door brandishing a gun. As the suspect entered, the gun discharged into the floor. The male then ran up to the counter and demanded money. The clerk complied, and the male ran out the rear entrance of the building. No one was hurt as a result of the single discharge of the firearm.
On March 22nd at around 5:10 p.m., police were dispatched to 1109 W. Omaha Street for a report of a robbery that had just occurred. An employee of the business told police that an unknown male subject had entered the casino and demanded money. The employee complied, and the suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money.
These robberies have occurred in the wake of 10 other business robberies within the Rapid City area. Police have arrested a single suspect (who remains in custody) in connection with four of these robberies,
Two additional suspects have been placed under arrest in connection with the recent robberies. 25-year-old Shannon Larive and 36-year-old Karmen Englert (both of Rapid City) were apprehended in the evening hours of March 23rd following a vehicle pursuit. Larive, the driver, stopped the vehicle in the area of Herman Street and fled from the vehicle. He was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. During the pursuit, he dropped a handgun, believed to be used in the robberies. The handgun has since been recovered. After speaking with detectives of the RCPD’s Criminal Investigation Division, Larive has been arrested on five counts of First Degree Robbery. Englert, a passenger in the vehicle, has been placed under arrest for four counts of Accessory to First Degree Robbery.
The 12 reported business robberies are:
· 2/22, 10:40 p.m. – Armed robbery at 2215 Haines Avenue (convenience store). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/3, 2:20 a.m. – Armed robbery at 1601 Haines Avenue (convenience store). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/11, 11:30 p.m. – Armed robbery at 620 Latrobe Avenue (hotel). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/13, 12:30 a.m. – Armed robbery at 601 Mountain View Road (casino). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/15, 12:40 a.m. – Armed robbery at 720 N. Lacrosse Street (casino). Shannon Larive, Karmen Englert arrested
· 3/16, 9:25 p.m. -Attempted robbery at 1320 Mt Rushmore Rd (casino). Shannon Larive, Karmen Englert arrested
· 3/16, 11:25 p.m. – Armed Robbery at 1808 Mt. Rushmore Road (casino). Shannon Larive, Karmen Englert arrested
· 3/17, 10:40 a.m. – Robbery at 1625 N. Lacrosse Street (hotel). Remains under investigation.
· 3/18, 11:40 p.m. – Armed robbery at 1624 E. Saint Patrick Street (casino). Shannon Larive, Karmen Englert arrested
· 3/20, 5:05 a.m. – Robbery at 601 Mountain View Road (convenience store). Remains under investigation.
· 2/21, 10:40 p.m. – Armed robbery at 1808 Mount Rushmore Road (casino). Shannon Larive arrested
· 3/22, 5:10 p.m. – Robbery at 1109 W. Omaha Street (casino) Remains under investigation.
In a concentrated effort to both investigate these open robbery cases, and prevent future business robberies, the RCPD has created a Robbery Strike Force. The strike force has carried and will carry out an aggressive, proactive approach to maintain a law enforcement presence at overnight/late night businesses. Additional resources from the RCPD’s Criminal Investigations Division will be used as a force multiplier for these proactive patrols.
Anyone with any information on the identity of the suspect(s) involved in any of these business robbery cases should contact Det. Dan Trainer at 394-4131. An anonymous tip can also be sent by texting the letters ‘RCPD’ and the information to 847411.
