Rock Rapids, Iowa — A Sioux Falls man faces a felony charge in Lyon County after an encounter with a Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy on Monday in the northwest corner of the county.
According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Arrest Log, 28-year-old Chad Austin Christopher of Sioux Falls faces a felony charge of felon in possession of a firearm, a class D felony. He’s also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without a license, windshield or window violation, defective or unauthorized muffler, and no insurance.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Lyon County Clerk of Court, the deputy reports he saw a vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 9 with a defective muffler and defective brake lights. Shortly after observing these violations, he saw the vehicle pull into a driveway about eight-tenths of a mile south of the Grand Falls Casino. The deputy says when Christopher stopped his vehicle, he quickly exited with his hands up.
The deputy says Christopher was “acting very erratic and suspicious.” Both occupants admitted that there was a firearm in the vehicle. The deputy says a search of the vehicle revealed a spent casing on the floor in front of the driver’s seat and a loaded gun on the floor behind the center console. He says he also found drugs and drug items. The deputy says Christopher had multiple felony convictions on his criminal history that make it illegal for him to possess firearms and ammunition.
If convicted of a class D felony, Christopher could face five years in prison. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday, September 2nd in Lyon County Court.
