Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Tribal Police Officers within the Cheyenne River Reservation

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Judge Eric Schulte, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on June 30, 2026.

Brian Bear Heels, age 41, was sentenced to five years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Bear Heels was indicted in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 11, 2026.

On April 15, 2025, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, Bear Heals fled from several tribal law enforcement officers and intentionally used his vehicle to hit three separate law enforcement vehicles multiple times, causing significant damage to all three vehicles.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

Bear Heels was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.