Former City Worker Charged with Stealing Gas

A former City of Metropolis employee has been charged with stealing gasoline from a city-owned pump.

According to Metropolis Police, on May 12 at 3:04 am an officer on patrol saw a vehicle parked next to the city of Metropolis gas pumps on Pearl Street. Police said the officer saw that the pump was reading 22.8 gallons of fuel. He could reportedly smell a strong odor of gasoline in the vehicle, and the gas gauge showed a full tank.

Police said the driver of the vehicle, 37-year-old Frank L. Henderson, was recently fired from his job with the City of Metropolis. Henderson told police that he had pulled up next to the pumps to speak with a person he had seen walking down the street. A report was made and forwarded to the Massac County State’s Attorney for review. 

Police issued a warrant for Henderson's arrest on a theft charge and took him into custody Friday morning. Henderson was taken to the Massac County Detention Center where he was being held on a $3000 bond.  

“City workers should be held to a high moral standard," said Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel. "Theft of any kind will not be tolerated.”