South Dakota woman extradited on grand theft charge

A South Dakota woman who was arrested in Sundance for possession of a stolen vehicle has been extradited to face charges of grand theft.

According to court reports, McKenzie Jay Marie Harrod was arrested by a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy on December 8 for felony possession of stolen property.

The trooper reports being contacted by dispatch on December 7 at 11:42 p.m. about a possible stolen vehicle parked in Sundance. He had earlier been advised that the vehicle was leaving Gillette and was en route to Sundance to get gas.

The information given to dispatch was that the vehicle had been stolen from an airport, though it was unknown at that time which airport. When the deputy arrived at the hotel where the vehicle had been sighted, he reports that it was occupied by a female.

Dispatch ran the plates and informed the deputy that the vehicle had been stolen in California. The deputy made contact with the driver, Harrod, who allegedly stated that she had left California and was making her way back to Rapid City with her infant son.

Harrod allegedly claimed the vehicle was a rental. When the deputy asked for the rental agreement, Harrod allegedly said a friend had rented it for her and she did not have the papers.

When the deputy advised Harrod that the car was stolen, he reports that Harrod said her friend “Marie” gave it to her. She allegedly later admitted to having taken it from a rental car company at the San Jose airport and said she did not feel safe with the people she went to California with and wanted to leave.

McKenzie was charged with a felony count of theft. On December 10, she was extradited to Lawrence County, South Dakota, to face charges of grand theft and petty theft.