Cops: Swan Lake man drunk, toting beer at DWI hearing

MONTICELLO — A Swan Lake man facing a felony driving-while -intoxicated charge showed up at Sullivan County Court on Monday with a bag full of beer — and was promptly thrown in jail without bail, officials said.

Keith Gruber, 49, had a scheduled 10:30 a.m. pretrial hearing.

Gruber came to court about an hour and a half late carrying a black bag that contained four cans of Busch beer, authorities said. He also was carrying an open can and was obviously drunk, officials said.

He tried to throw away the can, but officers stopped him.

The bag was confiscated by court officers at the security check and was presented to Judge Frank LaBuda. Before Gruber arrived in court, LaBuda relieved Gruber's attorney from the case.

Gruber had been represented by the Greenwald law firm but hadn't cooperated with them.

LaBuda asked Gruber if he enjoyed his "liquid lunch." Gruber indicated he did and said he was sorry.

"It was obvious he was intoxicated," LaBuda said.

Gruber, who has prior DWI convictions, was arrested Dec. 27 in the town of Liberty and was out on $30,000 cash bail.

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