MARSHFIELD, Mass. -- A man who called police the day an alleged drunken driver left his Marshfield liquor store is got a big thank you on Friday.

NewsCenter 5's Steve Lacy reported that Keith Whittaker's phone call led to the arrest of Robert Scheller. Police later found out Scheller had more than a dozen drunken driving convictions against him.

"He was slurring and moving a little funny, so I refused him, and I did what we always do. I called the police, they got the license plate number, the description of the van and, fortunately, they caught him," Whittaker said.

After hearing about the role he played in the arrest of habitual drunken driver Scheller, the family of Melanie Powell went to Marshfield Liquors to thank the storeowner.

"I just always think if someone had stepped up and done something before the woman got behind the wheel of her car, my daughter would be 16 right now," said Melanie's mother, Nicole Powell.

Melanie, 13, died after she was struck by a drunken driver in Marshfield three years ago. Since Melanie's death, the family has become tireless advocates for tougher penalties for repeat drunken driving, culminating with passage of Melanie's Law in October 2005.

But Melanie's family said more needs to be done to stop drunken driving.

"If you think that just passing Melanie's Law will cure all of our ills relative to drunk driving, it is not. This takes an entire society to work together," said Melanie's grandfather, Ron Bersani.

The family has set its sights on defeating a ballot question that would double the number of liquor licenses statewide.

Scheller was ordered held without bail and will return to court next week.