NATCHEZ — An early morning auto theft led to the arrest of a Wilkinson County fugitive Wednesday.

But it wasn’t until the truck was stolen that Adams County Sheriff’s deputies realized the fugitive was actually a fugitive.

Hollis Green, 18, was arrested last week in Wilkinson County in connection with a series of four-wheeler thefts in Adams and Wilkinson counties.

Adams County Sheriff’s Investigator Ricky Stevens said once Green was released from Wilkinson County, he would have been sent to Adams County to face grand larceny charges.

But on Friday, Green escaped from Wilkinson County’s custody, Stevens said.

Stevens said while the ACSO had been working with officials in Wilkinson County on the case, they were never informed Green had escaped.

“He’s from Natchez, we could have been looking for him this whole time,” Stevens said.

Stevens said Wednesday an Adams County resident on his way to work stopped at a mechanic’s shop on Montgomery Road to pay the mechanic for fixing his truck.

As the man was inside, Green allegedly stole his vehicle, Stevens said.

The mechanic and his customer gave chase in the mechanic’s truck at which point the customer, who knew Green, was able to identify Green.

The truck was found a short time later on a nearby road.

“(The truck’s owner) said it was Green driving the truck,” Stevens said. “And I thought he made a mistake because I though Green was in jail.”

After learning of the mistake, the ACSO and NPD spent several hours tracking Green through Natchez and arrested him Wednesday evening.

Natchez Police Sgt. Craig Godbold said deputies and officers worked together in Green’s arrest.

“We surrounded the house and they had people come out the front door trying to distract us. We went to the back door and as he tried to come out, we were there,” Godbold said.

Stevens said Green was arrested at his girlfriend’s house on 6 Roundale Road.

Green will be facing additional charges from both the ACSO and NPD, and is currently being held without bond at the Adams County jail.