SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A person was arrested for aggravated assault and intentional damage to property Thursday when a man denied him money as he was panhandling, police said Friday.
A man was inside his vehicle on 8th Street and Main Ave. when a panhandler approached him and asked for money. When the man refused, the panhandler broke his car windows with a hammer and threw the hammer into the car’s compartment, Sioux Falls Police spokesman Sam Clemens said on Friday.
Clemens said the driver then chased the panhandler down and called police. There were no injuries reported.
Officers on scene suspected the panhandler was under the influence of drugs, Clemens said.
“We’ve talked about panhandling extensively, if people want to give money, they need to give to nonprofits,” Clemens said. “This is a little bit of an extreme result after being turned down, but it is certainly concerning.”
The panhandler was identified as 36-year-old Skyler Bluebird, who is a transient.
