16 vodka drinks + 1 chimichanga = bad news

VERO BEACH — How many vodka drinks can one man get in eight and a half hours?

In Stephen Loftus’s case, it was 16.

Not to mention one chimichanga.

Problem is, according to an arrest affidavit, Loftus, 54, couldn’t pay his bill at the Mexican restaurant in Vero Beach where the orders were made.

About 10:40 p.m. on Feb. 18, police went to the Ay! Jalisco restaurant in the 1900 block of U.S.1 where a manager said “Stephen” at the bar couldn’t settle his $105 bill.

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Loftus told investigators he was supposed to meet his friend, Mike, for lunch at 1:30 p.m. Mike, he said, was supposed to pick up the tab.

Loftus said he had no money on him and couldn’t pay.

He offered to leave “collateral” and pay the following day, but Ay! Jalisco officials weren’t down with that.

Loftus said his landlord, also identified as Mike, was supposed to meet him. Police talked to Mike, who said that wasn’t true.

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The restaurant manager said Loftus ordered his first beverage about 1:30 p.m., and kept ordering until 10 p.m.

“In total, Mr. Loftus ordered 16 vodka drinks and one chimichanga totaling $105.67,” the affidavit states.

Loftus, of the 1100 block of Old Dixie Highway in Vero Beach, was jailed on a defrauding an innkeeper charge.

It could be said he didn’t go to jail thirsty or hungry.

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