OKEECHOBEE — After nearly five months, a man and woman have been arrested and charged with grand theft auto after being accused of stealing a U-Haul truck a friend had rented in order to trim trees. An Okeechobee County Sheriff’s deputy responded to the initial call and was told by the complainant that he had been staying with Rachael Hennon and Ronald Palmer for a couple nights. When he woke up on Aug. 21, he discovered his rental truck was missing and so were his friends.

The complainant called Hennon, who reportedly told him she and Palmer were in Martin County near Martin Highway and the turnpike, walking back to the truck after being stopped by Martin County Sheriff’s Office for picking berries. The complainant said he told Hennon to bring his truck back.

The following day, Hennon and Palmer reportedly left the truck on the side of the road in Okeechobee at the intersection of State Roads 70 and 710 after it ran out of gas.

On Dec. 30, Hennon was arrested on narcotics charges and was questioned about the truck. She reportedly told deputies she thought Palmer had permission to take the truck and that they took it to Martin County where they pulled off in the woods in order to have sex, but were interrupted by Martin County deputies who thought they were picking berries.

Hennon and Palmer were each charged with grand theft auto. Their bonds were set at $2,500 each.