Brookings Mailman Arrested While On Route

by Joel Young, Meteorologist/Reporter
February 07, 2013 9:14 PM


Wednesday morning, the U.S. Postal Service announced mail will no longer be delivered on Saturdays, and the news may have hit some a little harder than others.

Shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the Brookings Police Department responded to a rather unusual situation in a quiet neighborhood after receiving a tip that a mail carrier was suspected of drinking on his route.

“Upon arrival, we located the mail route carrier and an officer conducted a field investigation to determine if he had been drinking or not,” says Jeff Miller, Brookings Police Chief.

Police say his blood alcohol level was above the .08 legal limit. When they searched the vehicle, they got quite a surprise.

“There were some open containers found inside the vehicle as well as some unopened containers as well,” says Miller.
    
The mail carrier, who was identified as 33-year-old Travis Beller of Brookings, was then arrested for DUI and later released on bond.

Police say the incident is still under investigation and formal charges will be filed at a later date.
     
“For us, it’s just another arrest. This was our first contact that we’ve had and first information we’ve had about this individual that was traveling and allegedly intoxicated while on his route,” says Miller.

The U.S. Postal Service declined our request for an interview. However, they did say Beller has been suspended from his job without pay until further notice.