Police: Man Stole Beer Van

— A man told police he blacked out after drinking too much whiskey Thursday and woke up in a stolen beer delivery van, according to an arrest report.

Leon R. Cardinal, 33, of 1411 Midway Ave. in Fayetteville faces a felony charge in connection with theft of a motor vehicle.

Fayetteville officers were called about a stolen vehicle at the Walmart Supercenter, 3919 N. Mall Ave., just after 1 p.m. Thursday.

Police said the driver of a Dos Equis beer van left the keys inside the vehicle with the doors unlocked.

Video surveillance reportedly showed Cardinal trying to open car doors in the parking lot. The footage then showed the van being driven away.

Police said Cardinal received a “money gram” from Walmart just before the theft. He reportedly showed his identification and provided his personal information. He also left the vehicle he arrived in at Walmart. The car’s license plate was registered to Cardinal, according to the report.

Police said they found the van in Cane Hill at 3 p.m. Thursday. Officers found Cardinal at his home Friday.

He told investigators he drank too much whiskey Thursday morning and was in a “blackout state,” according to the report.

Cardinal initially said he had no memory of the incident, but later admitted to waking up in a “weird van,” according to the report.

He told police he ditched the van in Cane Hill and walked to his brother’s house.

He was arrested, but he hadn’t been booked in to the Washington County Detention Center as of 6 p.m. Friday.

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