Police: Gary Collins failed to pay restaurant tab

[January 06, 2011]  JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Actor Gary Collins was released from custody Wednesday after being charged with a felony over accusations that he left a restaurant without paying his $59.35 tab, police said.

Assistant Chief Rodney McGilvary of the Biloxi Police Department said the former TV host was charged Tuesday night with defrauding an innkeeper and held overnight at the Gulfport detention center on a $5,000 bond.

Collins posted bond Wednesday and was released. Authorities say no court date was set and McGilvary said he wasn't sure if Collins had a lawyer.

Jazzeppi's restaurant owner David Mattina told The Sun Herald he wasn't present Tuesday night, but regretted the incident. He told the newspaper Collins had been a customer for a while and he would seek to have the charge dropped.

[Associated Press; By HOLBROOK MOHR]

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