Inmate accused in deputy assault has lengthy criminal record

September 30, 2020

TEA, S.D. (AP) – An inmate accused of attacking a Turner County deputy and stealing his sheriff’s vehicle during a transport has previous charges of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.

Tyson Wessels was being returned to the Minnehaha County Jail in Sioux Falls following a court appearance in Turner County Sept. 22.

Authorities say he assaulted the deputy transporting him on Interstate 29 and escaped with the patrol vehicle.

Wessels was believed to have abandoned the patrol vehicle and to have stolen two other vehicles while traveling in South Dakota and Minnesota.

Before last week’s crimes, Wessels was already wanted on 14 charges in Lincoln County, included aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer.