Sioux Falls police respond to more than 300 firework complaints for week of July 4th

Firework-related complaints surpassed previous years by more than 100 this Fourth of July season, according to officials with the Sioux Falls Police Department.

Between Saturday and Wednesday, the department responded to 326 calls, 165 of which came on the Tuesday holiday, Lt. Andrew Siebenborn told media during a police briefing Wednesday morning.

The department issued five citations and multiple warnings, including one written warning and 11 verbal warnings, he said.

Last year, after the holiday, only 80 calls had been placed. But the 2022 calls fell well below the more than 200 calls received in years previous, according to previous Argus Leader reporting. Ahead of the holiday this year, the department had already responded to 94 firework-related calls.

More: Firework-related calls already up ahead of 4th of July, Sioux Falls police say

"I'm sure neighbors and dogs, and everyone else who doesn't enjoy fireworks as much as some people do, would appreciate here on July 5 that we not shoot anymore off," Siebenborn said. "They are illegal within the city limits."

Officers also responded to one aggravated assault involving a Beresford man police say drove his vehicle at individuals, threatened them with a knife and shot fireworks out of the window at them, Siebenborn said.

The individuals called police at about 2 a.m. near the area of 14th Street and Phillips Avenue, he said.

Police were able to find the 28-year-old individual who was then arrested for aggravated assault, Siebenborn said.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls sees rise in firework-related calls during July 4th holiday