Police arrest Gulfport man for crashing truck into Harrison County courthouse

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) - Gulfport police have arrested one man after he crashed his truck into the Harrison County courthouse Saturday morning.

An employee with the towing company involved told WLOX News Now he removed a small pickup truck after it crashed into the east side glass wall of the building just before 6 a.m. He said the driver of the vehicle appeared to have left the scene before police arrived.

The building was unoccupied at the time the vehicle struck the courthouse.

Keith Rio Cavalier, 28, was arrested later Saturday in reference to the crash by Gulfport Police officiers on charges of felony malicious mischief and DUI 1st offense.

Officers estimate the damages at over the felony threshold of $1,000.

The resulting investigation revealed Cavalier, of Gulfport, was driving under the influence and intentionally struck the building. Cavalier said the crash was a way to contact police in order to report his stolen drug paraphernalia.

Immediately after the crash, Cavalier was seen exiting the truck through the front passenger-side window.

“The Harrison County Board of Supervisors is certainly glad that no one was injured during the crash," said Harrison County Public Information Officer Jeff Clark. “The board is appreciative of the work by the Gulfport Police Department with the arrest of the driver.”

The warrant for his arrest was obtained from Harrison County Justice Court Judge Brandon Ladner, who set bond at $25,000. Cavalier is being held at the Harrison County jail.

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