Peaceful end to Redfield stand-off

REDFIELD — On Monday, June 25th, at 8:30 a.m., Mathew Mathern entered the Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield with his 10-year- old son and a loaded hand gun following a high-speed chase by Spink County law enforcement that reached 125 miles per hour.
Spink County Deputy Jenna Appel was one of the first deputies on the scene.
“… At about a quarter to seven we got a call about an agitated individual that came into the hospital upset. Once law enforcement was called, he left the scene and we began looking for him at about a quarter to eight,” Appel said. “I came in contact with him on the street in Redfield. I gave him some commands to stop and come speak with me and that is when he got back into his vehicle and a pursuit started.”
The pursuit ended at the hospital where Mathers proceeded to barricade himself inside with the child.
After Spink County deputies anticipated where Mathern was headed and called CMH in advance, the hospital went on lockdown immediately. Six patients were in the hospital at the time of the call, along with 35 to 40 staff members. All CMH staff and patients were evacuated and reported to be safe and accounted for.

At approximately 11 a.m., Mathern released the child after negotiating with law enforcement. At 12:22 p.m., S.D. States Attorney, Vic Fischbach, reported that Mathern had surrendered all of his magazines and ammunition “except for one bullet.”
According to law enforcement, Mathern had only a handgun in his possession, but other weapons were “involved.”
Finally, at 1:33 p.m. Monday afternoon, Mathern was led out of the building in handcuffs.
“This was a very intense, volatile situation … We will continue the investigations here and determine what charges are appropriate and follow through and see what else needs to be done here,” said States Attorney Fischbach. “Right now the charges would likely be aggravated alluding, child endangerment, aggravated assaults on the deputies who responded, a possible charge of kidnapping, charges of simple assault and we need to look into possible child abuse or neglect charges. Basically, I am waiting for the statements to be gathered by the various law enforcement agencies and then we will sort through those to determine what charges are appropriate.”
With the investigation ongoing, law enforcement were not yet able to comment on whether drugs were involved, why Mathern chose to go to the hospital, or whether he had attempted to harm anyone else.
Those involved in the case include the Spink County Sheriff, Spink County State’s Attorney, Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Brown County Sheriff, Division of Criminal Investigation and Aberdeen Police Negotiators and Officers, South Dakota Game Fish and Parks, and FBI Agents from Aberdeen.

PHOTOS BY PARRY STERNER/REDFIELD PRESS
Authorities were called to Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield Monday morning when a man held his 10-year-old son hostage following a high-speed chase.

Next, Mathew Mathern is taken into custody at the scene.