BELFAST – A local man who attempted to purchase milk and liquor at a local variety store while intoxicated ended up being arrested for driving under the influence.

Two off-duty police officers happened to be in the Belfast Variety when Lorimer Eaton, 59, of Waldo Avenue walked into the store at 7:24 p.m. Monday, selected a carton of milk and bottle of vodka, and went to the cash register.

With Officers Ken Fitzjurls and Ron Young watching, the store clerk refused to sell Eaton the liquor because of his condition. Young then prevented Eaton from getting into his 2006 Chevrolet in the parking lot.

Meanwhile, Young had asked his wife to call the Waldo County Communications Center for a uniformed officer. A short time later Sgt. John Gibbs arrived and Eaton admitted having driven to the store. Gibbs administered a field sobriety test and placed Eaton under arrest for operating while under the influence of intoxicants.

A test administered at the Waldo County Jail indicated that Eaton had a .25 blood-alcohol content, more than three times the legal limit.

“He told the officers he didn’t think he was intoxicated,” Police Chief Jeffrey Trafton said Tuesday.