BROOKINGS In terms of policing, this past Hobo Day Weekend was a relatively tame affair for law enforcers, with most numbers showing a decline from the previous year.
We had a good three days this year, Brookings County Assistant Sheriff David Biteler told the Brookings Register this week. With the weather being nice and the outcome of the game, folks were taking part in outdoor gatherings at houses and the foot traffic in the neighborhoods, in my opinion, was up from last year.
There were 26 arrests with 54 total charges this year, he said, adding that the numbers in 2024 were higher, with 36 arrests and 70 total charges.
Exact numbers are as follows, with 2024 totals first followed by 2025 totals:
- DUI charges/zero tolerance: 18 and 12, a reduction of six.
- Misdemeanor drug charges: Six and three, a reduction of three.
- Felony drug charges: Six and zero, a reduction of six.
- Assault charges: Three and four (simple assault), an increase of one.
- Rape: One and zero, a reduction of one.
- Underage possession of alcohol or open container charges: 12 and 13, an increase of one.
- Disorderly conduct, obstructing law enforcement, resisting arrest: Eight and three, a decrease of five.
- Miscellaneous traffic charges: 13 to seven, a decrease of six.
- Possession of revoked, altered or fictitious license/driving without a license: Four to 12, an increase of eight.
- Intentional damage: One to zero, a reduction of one.
- Grand theft: One to zero, a decrease of one.
On the citys side of the equation, the Brookings Police Department had a total of 219 service calls, a slight decline from 229 calls last year. Even better, though, were the arrest totals seven in all this year, compared to 26 last year.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the most service calls received by the BPD were for an intoxicated person or a nuisance/noise complaint 11 apiece in both categories. Parking enforcement logged nine calls, with traffic complaints at eight, and parking complaints totaling seven calls. Six calls apiece were received for suspicious persons/vehicles and vandalism/intentional damage.
Looking beyond the numbers, Biteler noted that operations at the Brookings County Detention Center went smoothly as well, in large due to having extra staffing on hand. It also helped that many of the Hobo Day Weekend arrestees were jailed for short periods of time.
Many of the arrests were what we call book in, book out, Biteler explained. The charges were such that all we needed to do with them was gather their demographics, get a mugshot and, in some cases, get a set of fingerprints. So, no long stay in jail for them, averaged about hour to hour and a half.
Patrol-wise, the sheriffs office was also well-prepared.
Extra deputies were in place to concentrate on saturation patrols Friday and Saturday nights, looking for any traffic offenses that may have (had) alcohol or drugs as a contributing factor, Biteler said. These patrols were done in close proximity to Brookings city limits, as the concentration of traffic was greater. As with any big sporting event with SDSU, the county has deputies that help staff the tailgate and stadium activities to help ensure everyone has great experience.
In closing, Biteler hailed the role ride-share services played in keeping Hobo Day Weekend safe.
I do feel that the ride-share services play a big part in keeping our numbers down, he said. Driving around town both nights, one could see the neon signs in the front windshields, buzzing around taking care of their patrons.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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