South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that a Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) review found a Beresford Police officer justified in using deadly force during a Nov. 21 traffic stop.
The officer stopped 36-year-old Christopher John Pearson of Brookings for a violation at the Truck Towne Travel Plaza. Initially cooperative, Pearson became combative, resisted arrest, and seized the officer’s handcuffs. Despite two Taser deployments, he returned to his SUV, retrieved a loaded 9mm pistol, and pointed it at the officer. The officer then fired, killing Pearson at the scene.
DCI recovered the weapon, processed evidence, and confirmed Pearson’s blood alcohol content was 0.212 percent. The officer tested negative for alcohol and drugs. Pearson, a convicted felon barred from firearm possession, had prior DUI and assault convictions and pending DUI charges from September 2025.
Multiple agencies assisted in the investigation. This marks South Dakota’s seventh officer-involved shooting in 2025.
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