Report: Lake Wylie man steals truck, gets charged with DUI

A Lake Wylie man is accused of committing two crimes in one: stealing a motor vehicle, and driving it while under the influence.

Ryan Kristopher Grant, 30, also faces two charges of assault and battery after he punched the vehicle’s owner, as well as the officer who arrested him, according to a York County Sheriff’s Office report.

The driver of a Ford F-150 told deputies that as he pulled into the Marlin Bay Apartments Monday night, he saw Grant come outside carrying a beer and sit down on the curb. The driver left the truck there for a short time, and when he came back, both the man and the truck were gone.

The owner went looking for his truck and found it on the side of Salem Road a short distance away, with Grant still sitting in the driver’s seat. When he opened the door, Grant reportedly punched the owner in the face, causing a passing motorist to pull over and try to stop the assault.

Grant’s wife also reportedly arrived on scene and offered the truck’s owner “large sums of money” not to call the police, according to the report.

Grant was still in the car when deputies arrived, and the report notes a “strong odor of beer” and says Grant “displayed a difficult time attempting to unlock the door.” Grant reportedly told the officer had had too much to drink to be driving, but said he took the truck because he believed the owner “was being cruel to animals.”

After he failed a field sobriety test, Grant was arrested and taken to the York County detention center.

Once at the jail, Grant “seemed very paranoid,” the officer writes. In the booking area. Grant reportedly punched the arresting officer in the face and moved towards him in an “aggressive manner.”

The officer grabbed hold of Grant’s arm, swiped his knee and “assisted (Grant) to the ground” before other officers arrived to subdue him.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Report: Lake Wylie man steals truck, gets charged with DUI."