Locked in beer cooler for hours, man passed time by drinking

MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Police have cited a Wisconsin man who began drinking after he got locked inside a convenience store's beer cooler.

Police were called to a Marshfield Kwik Trip early Wednesday after a customer noticed a man in the cooler. Employees opened the door around 6 a.m. and he fled.

The store manager told police the 38-year-old man drank a beer and three cans of Four Loko before he got out. Police later located the man.

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According to the police report, the man said he wanted to buy beer and got locked inside the cooler just before midnight Tuesday. He said he figured he might as well stay inside and drink.

"The subject found himself locked in the beer cooler, knew that Kwik Trip would not sell him any beer, so he decided to remain in the beer cooler," Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza told ABC affiliate WAOW. "A customer came by the beer cooler at about 6 a.m. and saw him inside."

Police cited him for theft. The report notes the cooler had a glass door and he could have knocked on it for help.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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