Beer van mix-up leads to arrest

MONON, Ind. (WLFI) - A Valparaiso man has been jailed after he allegedly took a beer distributor's van outside a liquor store in White County.

45-year-old Kenneth Michael Stokes was arrested Wednesday after an employee of Tippecanoe Beverage Incorporated reported his van was missing outside the Monon Liquor Store. The Winamac beer distributor was picking up inventory at the business.

Town Marshal Roger Young said the liquor store received a call a short time later notifying them that Stokes had taken the vehicle by mistake and was returning it.

When Stokes returned with the van, officers detected the smell of alcohol.

"Stokes had a blood alcohol content of 0.31%," said Young.

A blood alcohol content that high is nearly four times over the legal limit of 0.08%.

Stokes was arrested for operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction. He is being held in the White County jail.

Young said Stokes' van was also white. He said the vehicles were a similar make and model, but Stokes' van was parked about a half block away. The Tippecanoe Beverages Inc. vehicle was empty.