A former South Dakota TV news anchor accused of grabbing his girlfriend by the throat in a drunken rage and slamming her to the ground several times is scheduled to stand trial in June.
Shad Olson, 52, allegedly assaulted the unidentified woman in her home in Rapid City, SD, in February of last year.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Olson “kept calling his girlfriend of eight years a crazy b—h” and forced her to flee her home barefoot while he “chased her.”
The report states that Olson “flipped her over and picked her up and threw [her] down on the floor” as much as five times.
The victim shared that she felt fortunate the incident happened on a carpeted surface, saying the cushioning likely prevented broken bones during the alleged assault.
The alleged victim told authorities that Olson had assaulted her on previous occasions and that the violence was triggered by his drinking as well as his reaction to political developments.
“Shad is stressed over politics and it makes him drink,” the girlfriend is alleged to have told authorities.
According to the affidavit, Olson “doesn’t work” and has “no source of income.” She said that she “pays for everything in the home” while he “worries about the country.”
The victim told investigators that “she has been going through this for eight years and thought she was going to die.”
During the alleged assault, the victim was “chased” by Olson, who “told her to not ruin his reputation” as he “continued to follow her.”
The woman told investigators that she eventually went back into the house. “As [she] entered the front door, Shad lifted her up by her throat saying ‘You made me do this’ and continued shaking her while her feet were off the ground,” according to the affidavit.
The girlfriend managed to pry herself loose from Olson’s grip and flee to her neighbor’s house while barefoot before a sheriff’s deputy eventually arrived, the affidavit stated.
Olson was arrested and eventually released on $5,000 bail that was put up by Jodie Frye, a former legislative candidate.
He was subsequently charged with aggravated assault-domestic violence, a felony offense.
In November 2024, the Meade County State’s Attorney’s Office dismissed the felony charge against Olson. The reasons for the dismissal were not detailed in public records.
However, Olson continued to face a charge of simple assault-domestic violence, classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor in South Dakota. His trial is slated to begin June 5.
Initially, Olson was set to enter a plea agreement. However, he later withdrew from the agreement, opting instead for a jury trial.
Olson began his career in journalism in 2000 as a reporter and news anchor for KOTA Territory News, an ABC-affiliated television station based in Rapid City.
In 2010, he was suspended from KOTA after delivering a speech at a “tax day” rally held by Citizens for Liberty, a local Tea Party chapter, which raised concerns about journalism ethics.
He subsequently resigned from his position on May 11, 2010.
By 2012, Olson returned to broadcasting with KNBN NewsCenter 1, an NBC-affiliated television station in Rapid City.
In February 2017, he was replaced by two staff reporters in the station’s prime time 5:30 slot. The exact date of his departure from KNBN is unclear, as there was no official statement from the station’s management.
Olson worked as campaign counsel for Neal Tapio, a Republican contender for a US Congressional seat who was defeated in the GOP primary by Rep. Dusty Johnson and then-Secretary of State Shantel Krebs in the race for the state’s at-large congressional seat during the 2018 mid-terms.
The Post has sought comment from Olson and Frye.