OKEECHOBEE — After he hired a man to weld his trailer, the man reportedly stole his truck. On Monday, May 3 at approximately 7:15 p.m., Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Deputy Francisco Hernandez was dispatched to a home on Northwest 12th Avenue in regards to a stolen vehicle complaint.

When he arrived, the truck owner told him he hired Thomas Fralix to weld a trailer for him. He said Fralix showed up at his house earlier in the day but rather than welding the trailer, he drove off in the homeowner’s truck. The man said he was not home and did not give Fralix permission to use his truck, but his two roommates contacted him and told him Fralix took it. The roommates corroborated the story, saying they had been sitting on the front porch when they saw Fralix drive off in the truck.

A BOLO was put out on the vehicle, but several hours later, the truck owner contacted the sheriff’s office to say Fralix and the truck were back at his house.

Deputy Devon Satallante responded to the home at approximately 10 p.m. According to Satallante’s report, Fralix was sweating profusely and unable to stand still as they spoke. He told Satallante he planned to weld the trailer but after the truck owner left the house, Fralix had trouble starting the welding machine and took the truck to go get parts at his grandparents’ home. He explained he did not have a phone to call and ask permission to use the truck. After picking up the parts he needed, he went to a friend’s house for dinner and then fell asleep at the friend’s house. The friend woke him up, reminding him he needed to take the truck back.

Fralix was charged with grand theft auto, and his bond was set at $2,500.