Traffic stop yields trafficking amounts of meth in Shoshone County

WALLACE –– A pair of Montana men were arrested last week after a traffic stop resulted in the discovery trafficking amounts of methamphetamine.  

Richard Campbell, 47, and Casey Waterford, 40, both of Butte, were stopped by Shoshone County Sheriff’s Deputies on Saturday as they were driving through Smelterville. According to police, both men exhibited suspicious behavior during the stop but reportedly admitted to having drugs in the vehicle before the county's K-9 unit arrived.   

Deputies recovered five pounds of methamphetamine, marijuana, and several different devices used to ingest drugs.  

Sheriff Holly Lindsey has made stopping the flow of drugs into Shoshone County a priority during her time as sheriff. The Shoshone County Drug Task Force has been very active in recent years, busting drug dealers and actively hunting drug traffickers. 

“We are proud of the work our deputies and fellow law enforcement agencies put in every day,” Lindsey said. “It is their dedication and experience that brings about these types of results. We will remain committed to enforcing the law and doing our best to keep drug dealers and drug traffickers out of our community. We are going to continue our multi-pronged approach to increase the public safety in Shoshone County.” 

The Drug Task Force is a multi-agency partnership between the SCSO and the other local police forces throughout the Silver Valley. The Kellogg Police Department assisted in the stop. 

During their first appearances on Monday, Campbell was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Waterman has been charged with aiding and abetting, and possession of a controlled substance.  

Campbell's trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a possibility of life. 

Both men are scheduled to appear in court on November 21.