Police make arrest, save Meade County child in alleged abduction case
Officers saved an alleged abducted child and arrested a suspect after a multi-agency pursuit that crossed state lines
by Pioneer staff reports
Oct 28, 2024
STURGIS — Officers saved an alleged abducted child and arrested a suspect after a multi-agency pursuit that crossed state lines.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a missing 13-year-old female from the rural Meade County area. It was quickly determined this juvenile was likely abducted from the area by a subject from Omaha, Neb.
Sean Carlos Payne, 22 of Omaha, was quickly identified as a suspect through electronic communications. Payne, a registered sex offender, was wanted in Nebraska for a probation violation for enticing a minor, third degree assault terroristic threat, assault by strangulation or suffocation, and domestic violence assault in the third degree with bodily injury.
Resources from the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, SD Division of Criminal Investigation, SD Fusion Center, and SD Highway Patrol all began coordinating efforts to locate the suspect and the missing juvenile.
At approximately 11:50 a.m., just as an Amber Alert for the missing juvenile was about to be issued, the Wyoming Highway Patrol located the suspect. After a pursuit in the Rawlings Wyo. area, the Wyoming Highway Patrol was able to take the suspect into custody and save the missing juvenile.
“The amount of resources that came to bear on this case in a short amount of time is once again a testament to the working cooperation between agencies across the state, said Meade County Sheriff Pat West. “Saving a young child from a wanted predator is a win for us today.”
“When a child goes missing, and the evidence is clear they have been abducted, we will do everything to find that child and bring them home safely,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley.
West credited 911 dispatchers for their response time and help in apprehending the suspect.
“Quick thinking by the 911 dispatchers, who sent messages to all surrounding states, with possible vehicle descriptions, was the key to finding this kid,” West said. “We have some of the best on our team.”
Payne will remain in custody in Wyoming, as law enforcement continues to investigate this incident. It is likely there will be multiple charges in Wyoming, South Dakota, as well as his active warrants in Nebraska.
