MILTON — Greg Drollinger’s arrest of a Watsontown man for driving under the influence of alcohol didn’t follow your typical pull-over.
In fact, Drollinger on Wednesday night called it “clearly one of the most unusual things I have seen as an officer.”
The Watsontown policeman first noticed Steven David Hostetler, of 41 Seese Road, driving with no visible lights at 2:04 a.m. June 12.
In fact, Drollinger nearly pulled out in front of Hostetler.
What made the event unique is that Hostetler wasn’t driving a car, nor was he riding a motorcycle or bicycle.
The 21-year-old was charged Wednesday with driving a horse and buggy while under the influence of alcohol.
Drollinger first noticed Hostetler driving his buggy on Matthew Street near 10th Street with no visible lights.
When asked why he had no illumination on the buggy, Hostetler said he had forgotten, according to police reports.
Drollinger said Hostetler showed him a valid driver’s license, and he asked Hostetler whether he was Amish because he was driving a horse and buggy.
“Well, sort of,” Hostetler replied. “I left and sort of came back. I’m a bad Amish.”
Drollinger reported he could smell alcohol on Hostetler as he spoke and the man’s speech was slurred and difficult to understand.
Hostetler failed the field sobriety tests administered by Drollinger, and was taken to Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg, for a blood-alcohol test, which showed a blood-alcohol concentration level of 0.165 percent. Pennsylvania’s legal limit is 0.08 percent.
Hostetler told Drollinger he had attended the Watsontown Carnival earlier in the evening, then went to the Mansion House and later to the Anteek. He said he estimated he had drank 12 draft beers.
He told Drollinger he was aware he could be cited for driving under the influence of alcohol with a horse and buggy, but he believed police would leave him alone because he was Amish and “They always get away with things.”
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