Body removed from Pierre, S.D., federal building

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A body was removed early Sunday evening from the post office section of the Pierre federal building, but authorities are refusing to provide any details.

Law officers were called about 4 p.m. Sunday. Police crime tape was placed across the entire east side of the building, covering two sets of entrance doors. Officers used the doors that lead into the post office and the lobby where the private mail boxes are located.

About a dozen officers from the Pierre Police Department, Hughes County Sheriff’s Office, Stanley County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and U.S. Marshal’s Office were at the scene. Officers could be seen in the building taking photos and gathering samples.

Hughes County coroner Rob Fines arrived after 5 p.m. and a funeral home van came to the scene around 6 p.m.

A stretcher was taken into the building and authorities confirmed one body was placed in the van about 6:30 and taken to the funeral home.

Neither Pierre Assistant Police Chief Elton Blemaster nor local FBI agent Oscar Ramirez would comment, saying that all information would have to come from the FBI’s Minneapolis office.

FBI officials did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The federal building and post office area remained closed to the public Sunday evening. One official said that when it would be open would depend on “cleanup.”

Several local residents watched from across the street in a drug store parking lot. One observer, a postal employee, said post office workers would not be in the building until after midnight Monday.

A section of Pierre Street that runs past the federal building was closed but officials said it would be reopened later Sunday night.

Tags: courts and crime, south dakota, federal building, news, pierre, body