Highway Patrol: Pursuit through Sioux Falls started with 'improper right-hand turn'

The South Dakota Highway Patrol says a pursuit that ended in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday night started with a driver making an "improper right-hand turn."

Highway Patrol spokesman Tony Mangan said a trooper tried to pull over a man —identified as 43-year-old John Harlan Clifford — on the west side of Sioux Falls after Clifford allegedly made an improper right-hand turn. Mangan said Clifford refused to stop and the trooper decided to pursue.

The car chase ended when Clifford allegedly crashed the 2001 Lexus 300 he was driving into a parked car near Fifth Street and Prairie Avenue, Sioux Falls police spokesman Sam Clemens said. 

Once the car crashed, Clifford allegedly took off on foot. When police found him in the 900 block of West Fifth Street, he refused to cooperate with police and take his hands out of his pockets when asked, Clemens said. A K9 was used to knock him down and grabbed his hand, as it is trained to do, he said.

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Clifford was treated on scene for a "small bite mark" from the K9, Clemens said.

It was determined that Clifford stole the Lexus from a car dealer under the premise of taking it out for a test drive, Clemens said. He was charged with grand theft and possession of stolen property. 

Clemens said the police department was not involved in pursuing Clifford.

Mangan said the Highway Patrol is investigating why the trooper chose to pursue Clifford. 

The Sioux Falls Police Department retooled its pursuit policy in 2015 after making changes to how it pursued suspected criminals. The updated policy states that officers should not chase suspects unless they are considered a danger to the public, have committed a dangerous felony or are carrying a weapon. If the situation escalates to a high-chase pursuit, the officer is required to stop the pursuit immediately.

The Argus Leader reached out to the Highway Patrol regarding their pursuit policy.