4 Suspects in Assault of Patrol Trooper Plead Not Guilty
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Four Washington state residents charged with assaulting a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper have pleaded not guilty to charges.
Authorities say 10-year veteran Zachary Bader was assaulted Oct. 24 while making a traffic stop on Interstate 90 east of Rapid City.
KEVN-TV reports that 33-year-old suspect Donald Willingham pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder, aggravated assault, and drug and weapons charges.
Twenty-two-year-old Jonathan Melendez, 26-year-old Desiree Sukert and 23-year-old Chase Sukert pleaded not guilty to being accessories, along with drug and weapons counts.
Authorities say they recovered more than 50 pounds of marijuana, $33,000 in cash and a handgun after the October incident.
The Rapid City Journal reports that Bader was released from a Rapid City hospital on Nov. 7 and is recovering at home.
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