Elkins arrested in Indiana

A man wanted for robbery and grand theft in Brookings County has been arrested in Indiana.

Thirty-five year old Ronald Dale Elkins is suspected in a convenience store robbery and the theft of two pickups early Friday morning. Brookings Police and the Sheriff’s Department reported the three incidents.

It began with a holdup alarm from Cenex Convenience Store on the 3000 block of Lefevre Drive at about 2:20 Friday morning. The man stole items as he was leaving.

Arriving police saw a vehicle leaving rapidly and tried to stop it. The vehicle fled a short distance, lost control and spun out on the 700 block of 32nd Avenue South. The suspect fled on foot.

Shortly after 4:00 a.m., a rural Aurora resident saw someone driving off in their pickup. That pickup was found in the ditch.

At about 6:20 a.m., another rural Aurora resident also reported a stolen pickup. That 1999 Ford F150, gold in color, was recovered by the Indiana State Patrol and Elkins was arrested early Saturday morning.

Elkins will likely face extradition to Brookings County to face charges.

For a time on Friday, it was believed that Elkins was in Aberdeen. That led to the lockdown of a hospital and school.