Arkansas man arrested after truck taken here

An Arkansas man who reportedly stole a truck and drove away from his McCracken County work detail just over a month ago is back behind bars.

Randy Ray Simmons, 46, of Judsonia, Ark., was working on the 2000 block of Old Cairo Road near St. Vincent de Paul Budget Store on Sept. 29 when he took a pickup truck belonging to Steve Parsons, 46, of Benton, who left his keys in the ignition when he went inside the store, according to police.

Simmons was serving a five-year sentence for two counts of possession of a forged instrument.

Kentucky State Police said Simmons went to Florida, abandoned the truck and took another vehicle. On Oct. 21, police in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, identified the second stolen vehicle and arrested Simmons. He was extradited to Kentucky on Tuesday.

He is now charged with second-degree escape and theft by unlawful taking over $300, and more charges are possible.

Simmons is back in the McCracken jail on a $2,500 cash bond, as well as for his previous convictions.