WARREN, Ohio - A Canfield man has entered a not guilty after being accused of stealing a pickup truck because the owner allegedly failed to pay him for mechanical repairs on the truck.

Michael Infante, 64, was arraigned Tuesday on one count of auto theft in Warren Municipal Court.

According to a police report, a 42-year-old Warren man gave Infante a key fob for his 2003 Chevy Avalanche while Infante repaired the transmission.

Several days after the truck was returned, the owner said he and his wife saw Infante backing the truck out of the driveway of their Atlantic Street home last Thursday afternoon.

The owner told police that he still owed Infante $100 for the repairs but was given a few days to make the payment.

Austintown police say they went to Infante’s South Meridian Road business but didn’t see the truck.

According to the police report, Infante told an officer that he “repossessed” the truck because the owner still owed him $1,000.

After being told that what he did was not legal, Infante wouldn’t give the officer the current location of the truck, adding that he would burn the vehicle if he didn’t get paid, according to the police report.

Infante is free on bond and is scheduled to appear for another court hearing on March 24.