PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – A 31-year-old man from Pierre faces felony charges related to fires and a burglary earlier this month.
At approximately 3:30 Wednesday morning , Pierre Volunteer Fire Department chief Ian Paul says they were called to a fire in a large, plastic dumpster in the front parking lot at Lariat Lanes (100 block of North Garfield Avenue).
The previous fire at Lariat Lanes happened in the early morning hours of Jan. 11, 2021.
Information from the Pierre Police Department says shortly after 5 a.m. today, Central South Dakota Communications dispatch received a call of a burglary at a business in the 200 block of West Sioux Avenue. During the investigation, officers were able to identify the clothing worn by the suspect during the burglary and a suspect matching the description was located in the area. After a short foot pursuit, officers were able to detain and identify the suspect as Justin Belille of Pierre.
While officers were with Belille, they detected an odor of smoke coming from his person. During their interview, Belille admitted to the burglary and setting the dumpster on fire this morning and the morning of Jan. 11.
Belille is currently in the Hughes County Jail, where he is held on two counts of Reckless Burning, Third Degree Burglary and Petty Theft. Reckless Burning is a Class 4 Felony. Third Degree Burglary is a Class 5 Felony. Petty Theft is a Class Two Misdemeanor.