Woman Faces DUI and Child Neglect Charges after Swerving Through Pierre with Child Passenger

A woman from Fort Thompson was taken into custody on Saturday night for reportedly operating a vehicle under the influence while children were present.

Officers responded to a report of a vehicle swerving near the S-Curve in Pierre at approximately eight in the evening, according to Police Captain Dusty Pelle.

A vehicle heading east on Wells Avenue was reported to authorities for allegedly running a stop light at Harrison Avenue. A traffic stop occurred close to the intersection of Wells and Grant Avenue.

The driver has been identified as 26-year-old Connor Voice. A nine-year-old child was present in the vehicle during the incident. While engaging in conversation with Voice, the officer detected the scent of alcohol and initiated a field sobriety assessment.

She was apprehended and brought to the Hughes County Jail facing multiple allegations, which include operating a vehicle without a valid license, a first-time DUI offense, not using seat belts, failing to ensure seat belts were used by passengers aged five to 18, making an unsafe lane change, possessing an open container, and contributing to the abuse or neglect of a child.

The young one was handed over to relatives.

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