Drug Crimes

The Minnehaha County State's Attorney's Office

prosecutes drug crimes on both a misdemeanor and felony level. Three of the prosecutors in the office specialize in drug cases, which largely involve the illegal use and distribution of narcotics, including methamphetamine and cocaine.

In the last few years, arrests involving the manufacture of methamphetamine in clandestine labs have increased in number and are becoming a more significant part of the office's caseload. Other crimes, such as prescription forgeries and the theft of prescription drugs, are also prosecuted.

The drug prosecutors work closely with the Sioux Falls Drug Task Force, which is composed of law enforcement officers and investigators from the Sioux Falls Police Department, the

Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Other agencies, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, also work cooperatively with the county prosecutors to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of drug crimes in the Sioux Falls area.

The community can be very helpful in the battle against illegal drug activity. It is often hard to be certain what you are seeing involves drugs, but some patterns may indicate drug activity:

An unusually large amount of traffic in your neighborhood, often at strange hours.
Repeated, observable exchanges of items, especially where money is visible.
Noxious odors from or around the homes or buildings, such as "musty" smells.
Homes or buildings where no primary owner or renter is apparent, and no home activities, yard work, painting/maintenance, etc., seem to go on.
Finding drugs or drug paraphernalia in the area.
Offers to sell you drugs, or conversations about drugs that you overhear.

How to Report Drug Activity

Don't assume the police already know about the activity, or that a neighbor will call. Don't assume one report is all that is needed. If the activity keeps on occurring, keep on reporting it. If the pattern changes, report that change. All neighbors who suspect drug activity are encouraged to report it.

To report suspected drug activity call law enforcement at 911.

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