Two arrested for burglaries in Brookings, Brandon and Elk Point

Two men have been arrested in connection to burglaries in Brookings as well as Brandon and Elk Point.

The Brookings burglaries occurred on November 11th. Video surveillance from local community members showed a maroon SUV was likely involved. The suspects also used credit cards in Minnesota that were stolen in the burglaries. Mall of America security assisted with locating and tracking the suspects on video to a maroon SUV. The Bloomington Police Department identified the license plate of that vehicle using their Automated License Plate Readers.

On Tuesday, November 22nd, the South Dakota Highway Patrol arrested 18-year-old Dakota Durrani of Sioux Falls driving the SUV used in the burglaries. He was arrested for an outstanding Florida warrant.

On Wednesday, November 30th, the Minnehaha County Warrant Task Force arrested 24-year-old Mitchell Arevalo at his mother’s residence in Sioux Falls. He’s from California. A search warrant was executed at that residence by the Brookings and Brandon Police Departments with the assistance of the Elk Point and Sioux Falls Police Departments. Stolen property from some of the burglaries was recovered along with items purchased with the stolen credit cards.

According to Brookings Police Detective Adam Smith, interviews were conducted with the two and both confessed to their involvement in the burglaries. In Brookings, it involves burglaries of three residences and two motor vehicles.

Durrani and Arevalo are currently in custody at the Minnehaha County Jail. They will be facing multiple charges including 1st-degree burglary, 3rd-degree burglary, identity theft, aggravated criminal entry of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, grand theft, and criminal entry of motor vehicles.

December 1, 2022