A 52-year-old Eureka man was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated after he allegedly was seen drinking outside the QuikTrip, 290 E. Fourth St., then buying more beer there before driving away. Police also found open beer cans in the vehicle the suspect was driving, Eureka Police reported.
An off-duty Eureka Police officer called the Police Station at about 11:30 a.m. Nov. 6 after he allegedly saw the man drink a Natural Light beer before entering the QuikTrip convenience store and purchase a 24-pack of Natural Light beer before returning to a red 2004 Ford Explorer. An on-duty officer arrived at the gas station as the SUV left the parking lot and drove onto Fourth Street. The officer allegedly saw the driver run a stop sign before turning onto Central Avenue, according to the report.
The officer followed the Explorer on Central Avenue to Fifth Street and then Meramec Boulevard, where the officer stopped the SUV near Hilltop Village Center Drive. The officer reported the driver appeared intoxicated, but the man said he had not had anything to drink. He also allegedly told the officer he had drunk a lot the night before, according to the report.
The man allegedly failed field sobriety tests and was arrested. After the arrest, the officer allegedly found an open beer can in the pocket behind the front passenger seat, six more opened beer cans in the SUV and an open 24-pack of Natural Light beer in the rear passenger seat, the report said.
The man was taken to the Police Station, where he was booked and released to a sober driver. He also was issued summonses to appear in Eureka Municipal Court for alleged DWI, having open containers of alcohol in a vehicle and disobeying a stop sign, Lt. Michael Werges said.