August 6, 2024 |
Photo – Mugshot of Wyatt Fluty – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Saratoga man who evaded Rawlins police and then went onto shoot at officers in South Dakota last year has been sentenced to over 50 years in prison.
Last month, 29-year-old Saratoga resident Wyatt James Fluty was sentenced in South Dakota’s Meade County Circuit Court. Fluty pled guilty to attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and commission of a felony while armed. The charges stem from the August 9th, 2023, incident where Fluty opened fire on a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper.
KOTA Territory News, out of Rapid City, South Dakota, reports that Fluty was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the attempted first-degree murder charge and five years for the firearms offense.
At the time of the shooting in the Black Hills, Fluty was on the run from the Rawlins Police Department.
On July 27th, 2023, Rawlins Police spotted Fluty inside of a stolen vehicle on the east side of the city. Officers gave chase. During the pursuit, Fluty crashed through a chain link fence and drove the stolen vehicle into a ditch near the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course. Officers cordoned off the area, but Fluty managed to escape on foot.
Roughly a half hour after evading Rawlins police, a red 1991 Chevrolet half-ton pickup truck was reported stolen from the parking lot of the Rawlins Municipal Airport. At the time of the incident, Rawlins Police Chief Mike Ward said the vehicle contained several guns. Chief Ward said Fluty is believed to have fled the area in the truck.
After stealing the pickup truck in Rawlins, Fluty made his way to Sturgis. An unnamed South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper spotted Fluty walking along the road and attempted to stop him for questioning. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said Fluty opened fire on the officer. During the gunfight, Fluty unsuccessfully attempted to steal the trooper’s vehicle.
According to court documents, highway patrol trooper and an unidentified off duty out-of-state sheriff’s deputy exchanged over 40 gunshots with Fluty.
Fluty is reported to have been high on methamphetamine at the time of the incident.
A biker attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally captured cell phone video of the officer involved shooting. The video shows Fluty in the driver’s seat of the highway patrol vehicle that he was allegedly trying to steal after being shot by the officers.
Fluty was hit multiple times and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
KOTA Territory News reported last September that Fluty was charged with attempted first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder of a police officer. At the time, Fluty was also facing a number of additional charges related to the August 9th shootout.
Fluty made a plea of “not guilty” to all charges.
On May 31st, Fluty accepted a plea deal from South Dakota Attorney General Jackley. The Saratoga man agreed to plead guilty to attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and one count of commission of a felony while armed with a firearm.
Last month, Fluty was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his crimes. He must serve 75% of his sentence, or roughly 41 years, before being eligible for parole.
