Agencies offer $3,000 reward for Tuthill shooting information

Several law enforcement organizations are offering a cash reward totaling $3,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect in the Tuthill Park shooting.

The rewards are being offered as an additional way to move the investigation forward, Detective Rob Forster of the Sioux Falls Police Department.

"This is something that's done around the country in other instances," Forster said. "This is the first time we've had a situation like this happen in the Sioux Falls community."

Officer Anthony Davis was patrolling the park Jan. 1 when he was approached by a man who appeared to be holding a gun. After several commands to drop the weapon, Davis fired eight rounds toward the man. Police searched the park, but the suspect was not found.

Sgt. Mike Walsh, president of the South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police, said his organization exists to support its members.

"It's important to stress this is the first time an assault on an officer has gone this long without an arrest," Walsh said. "I wouldn't characterize it as leads drying up; I would characterize it as let's gather as much information as we can."

Stu Whitney blog: Reward seeks to unlock Tuthill Park mystery

Walsh, who works for the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, referred to the shooting as a "rapid, instantaneous confrontation."

"Make no mistake, this was a serious incident. It is a serious problem when you have someone willing to confront a police officer like that."

Walsh said safety, honesty and public duty commonly motivate people to bring tips forward.

"In this line of work, sometimes motivators need to be found to help people come in with tips," he said. "Very often, a strong motivation is money. In this case, it's just an additional step we want to take."

Detectives are certain the suspect has told others of his involvement in the crime, Walsh said.

"Speaking from an investigative standpoint, very few people keep things to themselves," he said. "I believe the subject involved in this has told more than one person they were involved."

Walsh said cases like these don't go unsolved.

"We do eventually solve nearly every case we come in contact with."

When investigating a situation such as this, Walsh said it's important for detectives to understand the mindset of the suspect.

"It is imperative that we understand the reasons why these things happen," he said. "If it happened for another reason other than the desire to kill Anthony Davis, we need to know. Right now, we have to assume somewhere in the spectrum of misunderstanding to homicidal intention."

Police will work with a credible source to conceal his or her identity if the person wants to remain anonymous, Walsh said.

"We need information that will lead to an arrest and a conviction," Walsh said. "It depends on the circumstances, but I don't want to mislead anyone, there is a chance their identity will have to be revealed."

The Sioux Falls Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council is offering $1,000 for the reward while the South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police is offering $1,000. The Minnehaha County Deputies Association is offering $500, and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1 Sioux Falls is offering $500.

Anyone with tips regarding the crime is encouraged to contact Detective Michael Webb at 367-7234.