Two men have been arrested after one of the men offered the other man money for sex, with the would-be male prostitute then stealing the man’s vehicle, along with another car.
According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, 71-year-old Ronnie Helton, of Laurel County, was arrested on Monday after he picked up a hitchhiker, 26-year-old Michael P. Collins, of Manchester, on I-75 in Laurel County.
Police said Helton offered Collins money for sex, with the two traveling to Crawfish Road, about five miles southwest of Manchester. When Helton exited his Chevrolet Malibu and started to undress, Collins took off in the car.
Late Monday night, Clay County deputies located Helton’s stolen Malibu off Richmond Road, just north of Manchester. Police said Collins met an older man from Jackson County at a Dollar Store just outside of Manchester under the guise of trading vehicles. Collins, though, took the man’s Mercury Cougar for a test drive and never returned.
Early Wednesday morning, deputies received a call about a suspicious vehicle on Stacy Branch Road, about 10 miles southeast of Manchester, according to police. When deputies arrived, they found the stolen Mercury Cougar, and tracked Collins to a home on Williamstown Road, not far from where the Cougar was located. Deputies said Collins tried to flee on foot but was quickly caught.
Helton was arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution. Collins was charged with theft by unlawful taking (more than $500, less than $10,000) and fleeing or evading police (on foot). He was also served with a warrant from another county.
Collins is currently lodged in the Clay County Detention Center. Helton is no longer listed as an inmate.
(Headline photo: Michael P. Collins)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
