Shots Fired Over Fence Dispute

By Russ Keen, American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

May 28–A Brown County man is scheduled to make his first court appearance today for allegedly firing a shotgun over a dispute on the location of a fence near Elm Lake.

No one was injured in the incident, said Tom Schmitt, chief deputy at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. The man, whose name will be released with his initial appearance, was arrested for simple assault and possession of a loaded firearm while intoxicated.

The incident occurred Saturday afternoon on the west side of Elm Lake, where the man charged was displeased with the location of a fence between two properties, claiming it obscured his view, Schmitt said.

Shots were not fired toward anyone, he said. But shots hit some cans, causing BBs to spray all around and raising some concern, Schmitt said.

Law enforcement received a call around 3 p.m. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office, the Edmunds County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks offices in Brown and Edmunds counties and Groton police responded.

Groton police responded because in an incident such as this, all available law enforcement agencies are summoned, Schmitt said. Groton is about 60 miles from Elm Lake, which is west of Frederick.

The man arrested is scheduled to appear in magistrate court at 9:30 a.m. today in Aberdeen.

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