Watertown Man Faces Drug, DUI Charges Following Traffic Stop Near Estelline

Northeast Radio SD News - Estelline, SD - A 40-year-old Watertown man was arrested on multiple drug and driving under the influence (DUI) charges last Monday following a traffic stop north of Estelline, according to a release from the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, November 10, 2025, at approximately 5:14 p.m., a deputy with the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a van near the intersection of County Road 465 and County Road 192.

During the course of the stop, the deputy reportedly observed suspected controlled substances inside the vehicle, prompting a search. The driver was then administered a field sobriety test at the scene.

Following the investigation, the Watertown man was arrested and transported to the Codington County Detention Center, where he was booked on five misdemeanor charges:

·         Driving Under the Influence (Drugs) – Class 1 Misdemeanor

·         Ingesting a Substance to Become Intoxicated – Class 1 Misdemeanor

·         Possession of Marijuana – Class 1 Misdemeanor

·         Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Class 2 Misdemeanor

·         Speeding on the Highway – Class 2 Misdemeanor

The Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation. As a Class 1 Misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in a county jail and/or a $2,000 fine in South Dakota, the most serious charges include DUI, ingestion, and possession of marijuana.

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