Work truck reported stolen crashes; worker, driver arrested

GULFPORT -- Police arrested two Bay St. Louis men after a Utility Partners employee reported a friend had stolen his work truck, which ran into a ditch Saturday night on Belmede Drive.

Andrew Frank Asher, 22, faces charges of driving under the influence and operating a vehicle without a driver's license.

Nickolas Sean Greene, 23, faces charges of false reporting of a crime and public drunkenness.

Utility Partners handles the city's water and sewer services.

Greene was on-call Saturday night and the two men had been drinking beer when Greene got a service call and decided to take his friend along, Knesal said.

Greene called police to report his truck was stolen as he was returning it to a storage yard on Hewes Avenue, Sgt. Damon McDaniel said. Greene reported Asher had assaulted him and taken the truck, he said.

Officers found Asher and the truck while responding to a report of a crash.

Police determined the two men had argued and Asher drove off in the truck, McDaniel said. Asher tried to turn into a residence when the truck partially went in a ditch in front of the house, McDaniel said.

Asher and Greene have each been released from the Harrison County jail.

Asher's bond is $1,683. Greene's bond is $885.50.

The misdemeanors will be prosecuted in Biloxi Municipal Court.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Work truck reported stolen crashes; worker, driver arrested ."