BILOXI, Miss. — Gary Collins, calling his arrest Tuesday night over an alleged unpaid bar tab "unbelievable," said he hopes to have the complaint resolved today.
The longtime actor and talk-show host declined to discuss details of the incident this afternoon, but told the Sun Herald he has only lived in Biloxi three weeks.
"I love the Coast," Collins said. "I want to make the Coast my home."
The owner of Jazzeppi's restaurant said Collins' arrest was "a misunderstanding."
David Mattina said police would not have been called if he or his wife had been at the restaurant. Mattina and his wife, Sharon, own the restaurant and martini bar on Porter Avenue, where an employee accused Collins of walking out without paying for dinner and drinks that totalled $59.35.
"The owners of Jazzeppi's are treating the matter as a misunderstanding and I will not be pressing charges," Mattina said.
"Mr. Collins has been in Jazzeppi's on several occasions, I understand, and I have been looking forward to meeting him and his wife. They will be welcomed and I hope we can put the matter behind us."
Biloxi Police Chief John Miller said Biloxi police officers arrested Collins, 72, Tuesday night on a charge of defrauding an innkeeper.
Collins was dining alone Tuesday night but failed to pay, Miller said, even though employees followed him out into the parking lot asking that he cover the bill.
Police said Collins has a Hollywood driver's license but listed his address as Cherokee Street, not far from the restaurant, which is just north of the Biloxi Police Department in downtown Biloxi.
Mattina said he regretted it happened.
"I'm going to see if I can get the charges dropped," Mattina said.
Read more of this story at SunHerald.com