A Wallins city official was fired and spent 20 days in jail after he was caught with an open can of beer while driving a city truck.

The water supervisor for Wallins at the time, Donald Nantz, was charged with reckless driving, possession of an open alcohol beverage in a motor vehicle and driving on a suspended license on Jan. 21. He was convicted in district court on Jan. 24.

Nantz was arrested in Harlan on U.S. 421. Harlan City Police Officer Mike Thomas was responding to a report of drunken driving when he pulled Nantz over.

In the police report, Thomas wrote that he could see a case of beer behind the seat and two cans of open beer spilled on the floor of the truck.

Nantz passed a field sobriety test. He failed a breathalyzer test by 1 percentage point but passed a retest. He was not charged with driving under the influence.

A Wallins city official who asked not to be named confirmed that Nantz was fired because he was driving a city truck when he was arrested. The official said that Nantz "packed up the day he got out of jail and left town."

Neither Nantz nor Wallins Mayor Freddie Burke could be reached for comment Friday.

This is the second time Nantz has been arrested for an alcohol-related offense while driving a city truck. In March 2004, he was convicted of operating the same motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, first offense.

The license plate number on that offense matches the plates of the vehicle Nantz was driving when he was arrested last month.

Court records also show Nantz was also found guilty of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana in January 2000.

The city has hired Chris McClain, of Cawood, to take Nantz's place.