Trespassing Arrests Soar in Sioux Falls Due to City Effort

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Trespassing arrests in Sioux Falls have surged after the city began cracking down on people deemed to be a nuisance.

The Argus Leader reports that police last year made 423 arrests for trespassing. That compares with 31 in 2010, the year before the city began emphasizing the arrest of loiterers, vagrants and the untreated mentally ill.

The effort has been popular with businesses where transients congregated. But some believe it's not fair to the homeless community.

Judge Bradley Zell believes there are "sweeps" conducted downtown to get unwanted people off the streets during community events. Stacey Tieszen with the local homeless advisory board says arresting trespassers is only a temporary solution, and she finds that frustrating.

Recently retired police chief Doug Barthel denies the city is targeting the homeless.

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