RAPID CITY, S.D. – A local woman remains in custody today following a suspicious grass fire on East North Street that led authorities to discover several outstanding felony violations and new drug charges.
Rapid City police and fire units responded to the area behind 128 E. North St. at approximately 2:30pm. on Monday, March 2. Witnesses reported a female throwing items into a growing fire near existing structures. Upon arrival, officers identified the woman as 34-year-old Pauline Apple of Rapid City and discovered a warm lighter in her backpack.
Apple was booked into the Pennington County Jail at 3:24pm yesterday. Court and jail records indicate she is facing a string of serious charges, many involving parole violations.
Among the charges are simple assault against a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other public official, which is classified as a Class 6 felony under South Dakota law. Apple is also charged with second-degree escape, a Class 5 felony typically involving a failure to return to custody or leaving a nonsecure facility without authorization.
Additionally, Apple faces two counts of possession of a controlled substance. One count is listed as a Class 5 felony involving a Schedule II substance related to a parole violation, while the second count involves a Schedule I substance and a failure to appear in court.
The Rapid City Fire Department prevented the fire from damaging any nearby buildings. While Apple remains in jail on a parole hold and her various warrants, the specific cause of the grass fire is still being investigated by local officials.
