Two arrested on suspicion of stealing truck

COLUMBIA — Two men were arrested Saturday night on suspicion of stealing a truck owned by a Columbia apartment complex and using it to transport stolen property, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

A caller reported a burglary at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Copper Beach Town Homes, located at 3217 S. Old 63. Columbia police arrived at the scene and determined that a vehicle owned by the complex had been stolen and was being used to remove items from the property, the release said. The stolen vehicle was stopped shortly after it tried to leave the scene.

Scott Dittmer and Richard Mermelstein, both 43, were taken into custody. Both men were found to be in possession of narcotics, police said.

Dittmer was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, one count of first-degree tampering and one count of felony possession of narcotics, according to the release, and Mermelstein was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.