MERRILLVILLE | Two people were arrested on public intoxication charges Friday while parked in a 2007 Lexus SUV parked outside a Merrillville restaurant.

Merrillville police Sgt. Jeff Rice said officers were dispatched about 5 p.m. to the restaurant, 8425 Broadway, in reference to conduct taking place in the parking lot.

An officer noticed a man and woman, later identified as Lee Stanwich, 37, of Tinley Park, and Nicole Alarid, 31, of Valparaiso, Rice said.

The officer also noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the couple and that they needed support to stand up, Rice said.

Rice said the officer asked Stanwich to take a portable breath test, but the suspect refused. Alarid agreed to the test, which displayed she had a 0.147 blood-alcohol concentration. The legal limit in Indiana is 0.08.

Alarid repeatedly told the officer, "This was a stupid mistake," Rice said.

Police said the two were taken into custody and later transported to the Lake County Jail.