A Crawfordsville man’s weekend plans were thwarted Saturday when he allegedly stole a car and was arrested for operating while intoxicated almost immediately.
Christopher Lindstrom, 34, of Crawfordsville, was arrested Saturday evening after police say he stole a vehicle from the north side Dollar General store parking lot only to be pulled over due to signs of possible impairment.
“Officers were called at approximately 9 p.m. to the Dollar General on Maple Street regarding a stolen vehicle,” Crawfordsville Police Chief Mike Norman said. “While the initial (responding) officer was on his way, other officers located the vehicle described in dispatch.”
Crawfordsville Police officers noticed the vehicle in question driving a couple blocks from Dollar General. The officers followed the car to ensure it was the correct vehicle and to observe driving habits.
The officers following Lindstrom then performed a traffic stop on the vehicle on U.S. 136 West near North C.R. 525W for signs of possible impairment.
They gathered the vehicle’s information and performed a field sobriety examination.
“Signs of intoxication were there,” Norman said. “He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail where further tests were done.”
Additional testing revealed Lindstrom had a blood-alcohol content of .15 or more and was subsequently charged with operating a motor vehicle with BAC of .15 or more, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing endangerment.
Upon further investigation, it was determined the car Lindstrom was driving was the vehicle reported as stolen.
He was subsequently charged with vehicle theft, Norman said.
“The vehicle was not damaged and it was returned to its owner,” he added. “We always like when these things have good endings and can end on a positive note.”
