Port Charlotte man accused of stealing 9 bottles of liquor from Hooters restaurant

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. —

A man was arrested on Wednesday after being accused of stealing nine bottles of alcohol from a Port Charlotte Hooters restaurant.

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According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the Hooters restaurant on Tamiami Trail at around 11:22 a.m. after reports of a theft.

At the scene, deputies spoke to the manager of the restaurant, who told deputies that a man, who had been asked several times to leave the business, had stolen liquor from the business.

Deputies located Paul Duxbury, 67, of Port Charlotte, sitting in a grassy area behind the Hooters. According to CCSO, deputies spoke with Duxbury, and while making contact with him, they noticed three sealed liquor bottles in an open backpack sitting next to Duxbury, as well as a nearby white box with four additional sealed liquor bottles and another sealed bottle placed on a nearby tree branch.

Interviews with restaurant staff revealed that Duxbury had arrived at the business and was messing with its propane tanks. Byron told employees he had been hired by the business to conduct repairs on the propane tanks. The manager of the business told Duxbury no such service was requested and asked him to leave, CCSO said.

After being asked multiple times to leave, Duxbury made his way to a container unit next to the business where the restaurant kept its liquor. The container was an employee-only area, but was unlocked at the time due to a delivery, CCSO said.

Deputies then searched Duxbury and recovered nine bottles of alcohol, which totaled $459 in value. During the search, deputies also found a hunting knife, which Duxbury was not allowed to own due to his felon status, a bag of methamphetamine and a glass pipe which contained residue of methamphetamine.

Duxbury was arrested and charged with armed burglary, possession of a weapon as a felon, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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