A man with addresses in both Muldrow and Sallisaw is facing a criminal charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle after taking another individual’s vehicle and claiming “it wasn’t stealing, it if he brought it back.”

Glen L. Howard, 73, was charged on Oct. 17 in Sequoyah County District Court and is now scheduled to appear before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters for a Dec. 6 felony disposition docket.

Sallisaw Police officer Lalita Armer reported on Oct. 9 that the department received a call from a local dealership, stating Howard was there causing problems and they wanted him to leave the property.

Armer reported another officer traveled to the location and instructed Howard to leave, and he did so, but left all his personal property behind.

Armer said the department then received a call from a woman stating that her neighbor had reportedly witnessed a man stealing her vehicle. The woman said before officers could arrive, the vehicle had been returned.

The woman’s neighbor told police he saw Howard get into the car, and upon returning with the vehicle, told him he had stolen the car, according to the probable cause affidavit. In return, Howard allegedly told the woman’s neighbor “it wasn’t stealing, if he brought it back.” The woman’s neighbor then made Howard return the keys.

Armer said when Howard had returned to the dealership and retrieved his property.

Officers reportedly patrolled the area looking for Howard but could not locate him. About 30 minutes later, the department received a call stating that Howard was at the post office. Officers were able to place Howard under arrest there and transported him to the Sequoyah County Detention Center where he was originally booked in on a charge of grand larceny.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said unauthorized use of a vehicle is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed two years.