A Portage resident was arrested on Tuesday on charges of operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a crash after employees of Mark O’s Bar and Grill at 2385 Willowcreek Road reported a vehicle struck the building and fled, Portage Police said.

According to police, at approximately 1:40 a.m. witnesses advised they saw Joe A. Recio, 22, of 656 Camelot Manor, get into his vehicle, back up at a high rate of speed, drive over the parking block striking the building and leave southbound on Willowcreek Rd.

Police were dispatched to a residential area on Hickory Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle where they located Recio driving “recklessly and dangerously” into the northbound lane of travel, police said.

Police said Recio came to a stop on Stone Avenue and showed several signs of intoxication. He failed several field sobriety tests and subsequently scored a blood alcohol content of .16 on a chemical test, police said.

Motorists in Indiana are considered legally intoxicated when they score a B.A.C. of .08 or higher.

Police said Recio’s 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora -- which was impounded -- had visible damage on the entire rear bumper.

Recio was transported to Porter County Jail.

Posted 3/5/2013