Hamlin County, SD Sheriff's Office

07/30/2026

07/29/2026

Over Sunday night (July 26th, 2026), Bryant's pool concession was broken into, and the pool's fence was damaged. We are asking the public for assistance in reporting any suspicious activity. https://hamlinco.us/media

07/26/2026

Several small fires were reported near Castlewood on Saturday. Details at hamlinco.us/media.

07/24/2026

⚠️Scam Alert ⚠️
A new scam using Walmart's name and a PlayStation purchase is circulating. Media Release: https://hamlinco.us/media/

07/12/2026

SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH RESULTS IN DUI ARREST NEAR HAZEL
HAZEL, S.D. - On Friday, July 10, 2026, at approximately 10:34 p.m., Watertown Regional Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a single-vehicle crash on Mustang Avenue, approximately one mile north of Hazel near 180th Street. The Hamlin County Sheriff's Office, Lake Norden Ambulance... https://hamlinco.us/media/

07/11/2026

SHERIFF'S DEPUTY INJURED IN A CALL FOR SERVICE
HAMLIN COUNTY, S.D. – On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at approximately 8:23 p.m., the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to conduct a welfare check on an individual believed to be traveling within Hamlin County.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Lake Norden Police Department assisted in locating the individual. Later that night, a Hamlin County Sheriff's deputy located the individual just south of the intersection of South Dakota Highway 28 and 192nd Street, less than one mile east of Lake Poinsett (Stone Bridge). An Officer from the Lake Norden Police Department and the South Dakota Highway Patrol responded to assist.

As law enforcement officers attempted to take the individual into custody, the individual allegedly assaulted a Hamlin County Sheriff's deputy with a cutting instrument, cutting the deputy and causing injuries.

The deputy was transported by Estelline Ambulance to a local hospital for medical care.

The suspect, a 20-year-old woman from Lake Norden, was taken into custody and arrested on charges of Aggravated Assault Against Law Enforcement.

The incident remains under investigation. No additional information is being released at this time. Any defendant(s) listed are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

The Hamlin County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Lake Norden Police Department, and Estelline Ambulance for their assistance during this incident.

07/10/2026

From the S.D. Turn In Poachers (TIPS) - Information received through the South Dakota TIPS hotline led Wildlife Conservation Officers from Hamlin and Clark Counties to uncover a significant poaching operation involving multiple big game and small game violations in the fall of 2025. The investigation resulted in five individuals from four states pleading guilty to a combined 44 misdemeanor charges.

On October 26, 2025, a landowner reported three headless white tailed buck carcasses in rural Hamlin County. Wildlife Conservation Officers responded the following day and confirmed the deer had been taken illegally with a high powered rifle during a closed season and discarded without any meat removed.

A subsequent investigation, supported by additional tips from the public, linked a South Carolina individual to multiple unlawful deer kills and the disposal of deer heads. Search warrants executed on January 10, 2026, led to the seizure of fi****ms, a compound bow, and blood evidence connected to the crimes. The primary suspect was booked into the Codington County Detention Center, and officers conducted additional interviews with other parties involved.

The investigation revealed that five deer had been unlawfully taken at night using fi****ms or a bow, with the suspect shooting each animal from a pickup using headlights to locate them. Three of the deer were decapitated, and their carcasses were left behind. Two of the heads were recovered after being hidden in a tree belt following the publication of the initial TIPS post. Conservation Officers also identified evidence of additional deer being shot at or wounded but not recovered, along with illegal harvest of waterfowl and small game species.

Case Outcomes

A total of 44 misdemeanor charges were filed, consisting of 16 Class 1 misdemeanors and 28 Class 2 misdemeanors.

• South Carolina Individual
– 29 misdemeanor charges
– $2,729.00 in criminal fines
– $10,000.00 in civil fines
– One year prohibition on possessing fi****ms or ammunition
– Three year hunting privilege revocation
– Forfeiture of a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle, .380 pistol, and a Matthews bow

• Michigan Individual
– Six misdemeanor charges
– $600.00 in criminal fines
– One year hunting privilege revocation

• South Dakota Individual
– Four misdemeanor charges
– $847.50 in criminal fines
– Three year hunting privilege revocation

• New Hampshire Individual
– Four misdemeanor charges
– $930.00 in criminal fines
– One year hunting privilege revocation

• Second South Dakota Individual
– One misdemeanor charge (resolved through plea agreement)

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks thank the public for reporting suspicious activity.

Information submitted through the TIPS hotline continues to play a critical role in holding wildlife violators accountable and protecting the state’s natural resources.

07/09/2026

We would like to welcome Deputy Brady Sandquist to the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Sandquist was sworn in by Circuit Judge Abigail Howard on Tuesday at the Hamlin County Courthouse. Deputy Sandquist will be doing field training for the next several weeks with other deputies at the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office and officers with the Lake Norden Police Department before heading to the academy in the fall.

07/05/2026

WATER-RELATED INCIDENT
LAKE POINSETT, SD - At approximately 5:02p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Watertown Regional Dispatch received a 911 call reporting that a juvenile had been struck by a personal watercraft on the southwest side of Lake Poinsett.

The Lake Norden Ambulance Service and the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office were dispatched and responded to the scene. The initial caller was unable to provide the personal watercraft operator's location, but shortly after arriving, Hamlin County deputies located the operator.

The juvenile was evaluated at the scene by Lake Norden Ambulance personnel and was not transported to a hospital.

Officers with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks arrived on scene, and the crash was turned over for investigation.

07/05/2026

TWO VEHICLE CRASH
CASTLEWOOD, S.D. — Watertown Regional Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026 reporting a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of South Dakota Highway 22 and County Road 464, approximately five miles northeast of Castlewood.

Minor injuries were reported, but no individuals were transported to a hospital.

Emergency response agencies included the Castlewood Fire Department, Castlewood Ambulance, the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

Emergency crews remained on scene for approximately one hour. Performance Towing of Watertown removed one of the vehicles involved.

One driver is facing DUI charges in connection with the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the South Dakota Highway Patrol.