Arrest Made After Vehicle Theft Hits Snag

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – An attempted vehicle theft last Wednesday afternoon ended with an arrest following a brief search for a suspect wearing purple panties.

Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported Robert Wilson was arrested and charged with attempted motor vehicle theft after allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle from a residence on County Road 436. His plan hit a snag when the truck became mired in the mud while attempting to turn around in a yard.  His getaway also hit a snag after he fled on foot wearing only purple panties, prompting immediate scrutiny from passers-by. 

“The first call we received was a man running down the road wearing scant attire,” Humphreys explained. The second 911 call alerted authorities to the failed vehicle theft when the owner explained the situation.

A brief hunt for the suspect followed with several armed neighbors joining the search before a tip directed deputies to Wilson in a nearby residence. He was taken into custody without incident and booked in the Yalobusha County Detention Center where he gave a voluntary statement about the ordeal.