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Littering investigation leads to DUI arrest

ADAMS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — For five years, Greg Betant has been cleaning up plastic bags filled with empty vanilla extract bottles along Myoma Road in Adams Township.

"I thought it would've been a kid," Betant told Channel 11's Amy Marckinkiewicz.

Police say 61-year-old Mary Ranker of Cranberry Township not only littered, they say she admitted to drinking the liquid for the alcohol, while she was driving. A two-ounce bottle of vanilla extract can have upwards of 40 percent alcohol.

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Police put up trail cameras in a few different areas and very quickly solved this case. "The trail cam caught it all," said Assistant Chief Bob Scanlon. They ran Ranker's license plate, saw her out driving later in the day, and pulled her over. Officers told Channel 11 Ranker failed a field sobriety test with a BAC of .128 and also found vanilla bottles in her car.

Ranker is charged with driving under the influence and littering. She has a hearing in June.