PIERRE, S.D. - Attorney General Marty Jackley and Brule County States Attorney Dave Natvig announced today that Paul Brown, 38, Maple Valley, WA, was arrested on one count of abuse of or cruelty to a minor, class 3 felony, punishable by up to 15 years in the state penitentiary and/ or $30,000.

“The power and the importance of the Amber Alert system and the public were proven last night. The system allows for community support with multiple eyes looking for children in danger and allowing law enforcement to focus their search efforts when time is so vital,” said Jackley.

The State of South Dakota issued an Amber Alert at approximately 10:11 p.m. This resulted in three tips from the public within ten minutes of the alert being issued identifying the vehicle and license plate matching that of Paul Brown. A South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper located the vehicle in Kimball and detained Brown without incident. Both children were taken into temporary custody by South Dakota Department of Social Services and were evaluated at the local hospital.

This is the sixth Amber Alert issued in South Dakoat since its inception in 2003.

Agencies that assisted were the Brule County Sheriff’s Office, Central South Dakota Communications Center, Kimball Police Department, Mitchell Regional 911, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Department of Social Services and the Division of Criminal Investigation.

Brown is presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty.

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