SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota — A 41-year-old man, suspected in a week-long crime spree and considered a person of interest in the shooting death of a woman found last week near railroad tracks off West Wilbeth Road in Akron, was arrested by state troopers in South Dakota.
Timothy Sargent was arrested early Monday morning. Authorities said he could have been involved in as many as four shootings, including one incident where he allegedly shot a homeless man at a campsite near the towpath trail in Akron on August 17. He's facing attempted murder and other charges in that case.
Troopers from the South Dakota State Highway Patrol said Sargent was located near a rural farm in Freeman, South Dakota after he fled the scene of a crash.
He’s also considered a “person of interest” in the death of Rebecca Tomlinson, 22, who was found on Aug. 18.
When told of the arrest, Tomlinson's father, James Tomlinson, said he was relieved.
"It's a little relief that we're not having to look over our shoulder quite so much now," he said.
"Although the investigation is still ongoing, he is a person of interest. We developed that he had a prior relationship with Rebecca," Captain Dave Laughlin told News 5 last week.
Upon fleeing from the Akron area, Sargent was believed to be traveling with a woman named Savannah Emich, of Akron, who was also arrested along with Sargent on Monday morning. She is also being held in custody in South Dakota.
Sargent and Emich are considered persons of interest in a shooting last Wednesday near O'Bannon Woods State Park in Indiana. A husband and wife suffered injuries after they were shot while inside their SUV.
Investigators said Sargent is also a person of interest in the murder of a man in West Virginia last week.
"I think they thought they were above the law and were a modern day Bonnie and Clyde and could get away with things and never get caught," said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott.
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