A Rapid City man has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for assaulting tribal law enforcement officers during a vehicle pursuit on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
Brian Bear Heels, 41, pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer. A federal judge sentenced him to more than five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
According to court records, the incident occurred on April 15, 2025, when Bear Heels intentionally rammed three law enforcement patrol vehicles with his vehicle during the pursuit.
The case was investigated by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen.
Federal authorities said the sentence reflects the serious dangers posed to law enforcement officers during the incident.
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