Jackley describes 'all hands-on deck' call after Sioux Falls police officer shot

Attorney general says use of force by police, state troopers was justified

Two Sioux Falls police officers and two state troopers were justified in their use of force on a parole absconder after he shot one of the Sioux Falls officers April 1, Attorney General Marty Jackley said Friday.

Jackley, in Sioux Falls for two separate news conferences, described a chaotic scene in the early morning hours of April 1 after Sioux Falls law enforcement officers joined Minnehaha County Sheriff’s deputies with the fugitive warrants division who were attempting to apprehend Samir Albaidhani, who was wanted on felony warrants.

Albaidhani had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison for first-degree burglary in 2019, according to Department of Corrections’ records, but he was paroled last year.

Going into the apprehension, officers had been told that Albaidhani was armed, likely on methamphetamine – to which he later tested positive – and had made comments that he was not going back to prison.

He was located in a stolen vehicle, but a foot chase ensued near the 300 block of South Elmwood Avenue. At one point he allegedly turned and fired two rounds at the officers, striking one in the left arm. The officer went down but was able to fire three rounds from his pistol. The officer’s companion also got off a shot while rushing to aid the wounded officer, who was applying a tourniquet to his left arm.

At that point a call went out on the statewide emergency network that an officer had been shot, and a fugitive was wanted, Jackley said. Despite the late hour – the incident started at 3:30 a.m. – law enforcement officers from across the area scrambled into action.

“Certainly,” Jackley said, “it was all hands-on deck.”

Albaidhani was located again in a stolen vehicle headed south on Interstate 29, and a high-speed chase with state troopers started. That chase reached speeds in excess of 100 mph, Jackley said. Albaidhani attempted to exit I-29 at exit 42 with troopers and two officers from Beresford in pursuit when his vehicle lost control and went off the road.

Albaidhani left the vehicle and fled on foot. He again fired on the pursuing officers, including a trooper who had exited his vehicle to give chase. One of his shots hit that trooper’s vehicle. A second trooper attempted to stop him by using his vehicle, knocking Albaidhani down. As he reached for his firearm, the second trooper fired, hitting Albaidhani in the arm.

The incidents required separate investigations into the use of force by law enforcement, and Jackley called on 20 agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation to spring into action. Because they involved Sioux Falls and state troopers, those departments were not permitted to assist in the use-of-force investigations. There was urgency to gather evidence in the Sioux Falls incident because adverse weather threatened to destroy evidence.

“Both of those officers were justified in firing their duty weapons,” Jackley said.

Albaidhani faces nine criminal counts in Minnehaha County and 11 in Union County. In both, he has been indicted for first-degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, each of which carry 50-year prison sentences. His wound was not life threatening.

The incident, Jackley said, highlighted the perils that law enforcement officers face across the state. The Sioux Falls officer is recovering from his wound.

“We just ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers,” he said.