At around 3 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Stearns County Deputy Nate Younkin noticed a car stopped along the side of Highway 15 in Maine Prairie Township with the passenger-side door open. Deputy Younkin turned around to see if the occupants needed assistance. As he was pulling up behind them, they drove away; that’s when he noticed a large wet spot on the shoulder of the roadway. He followed them for a bit and then stopped the car.
The telltale odor of an alcoholic beverage met his nose. Deputy Younkin confirmed that the front-seat passenger had indeed gotten sick on the side of the road. This stop resulted in the issuance of four minor-consumption citations. The driver was the only one who made a good decision in this case: no alcohol at all.