Linton man accused of stealing two six-packs of Bud

Regonel L. Petoskey

When a convenience store clerk told a Linton man he could not buy alcohol because he was already too intoxicated – she said he was stumbling and fell into a shelf knocking items off onto the floor, he allegedly picked up a couple of six-packs of Bud and walked out the door.

Regonel Lane Petoskey II, 49, was arrested by Linton Police Officer Orry Phipps after Phipps was dispatched to the Fast Point gas station and convenience store in Linton around 2:30 a.m. last Saturday, July 7.

When the officer arrived, he saw Petoskey outside the store leaning up against a red pickup truck, with two six-packs of Budweiser in the bed. Petoskey said he had done nothing wrong and there was no reason for the officer to be there. 

Phipps reported Petoskey was standing with his hands at his waist so was ordered to place his hands behind his back away from his waist. He did not comply but Phipps was able to handcuff Petoskey and sat him down on the front sidewalk.

While LPD Reserve Officer Kenton Medlock stood with Petoskey, Officer Phipps spoke to the cashier as well as the driver of the red pickup truck who said he didn't even know Petoskey.

But when Petoskey left the store, he allegedly put the beer in the back of the man's truck then tried to get in the passenger door. The driver, who had just stopped there to get a soft drink, said he got out of his truck and did not allow Petoskey to get in the passenger door.

Petoskey was taken to Greene County General Hospital for a medical check. Officer Phipps reported that while there, Petoskey told him he was going to kick him and several times told him he was going to fight Phipps once the handcuffs were off. Petoskey was medically cleared than transported to the Greene County Jail.

When Petoskey appeared in Greene Superior Court on Monday for an initial hearing, he was charged with:

• Intimidation, a Level 6 felony
• Theft, a Class A misdemeanor
• Resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor

His bond in this case was set at $6,000 surety with ten percent allowed, but now there's another case pending against him.

Petoskey was arrested in late February and charged with:

• Two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor

In that case, he bonded out of jail but on Tuesday, as a result of the newest case filed, a petition to revoke his bond was filed in the earlier case and a warrant issued for his arrest.