Posted: Jan 9, 2013 4:49 PM by Veronica Flores / Ben Lloyd
Updated: Jan 9, 2013 5:07 PM
CORPUS CHRISTI - The City of Corpus Christi has terminated a gas worker who picked up a woman in a city truck. On December 7th, a woman sent us photos of the Gas Department truck she witnessed pulling over in the 600 block of Harmon Street to pick up the woman.
The resident speculated about why the woman was on the side of the street, but we wanted to check with the city first about the incident. This week, officials let us know employee Ernest Puente was placed on administrative leave a week after the photos were taken.
In a written response to questions about why he was seen with the woman in the truck for about 15 minutes, Puente admitted that he picked the woman up, but said he did so because she claimed she needed milk for her baby.
Puente wrote, "the female asked me if I date or something like that... she clarified what she meant by asking me if I wanted sexual action." He says at that point he turned around and dropped the woman back off where he picked her up.
Officials made the decision to fire Puente after six days of investigation. Records show he violated a provision requiring city vehicles to only be used for official business only. Employees are not allowed to give people a ride.
Do you have a tip, information about a breaking news story, or a story idea for 6 Investigates? Contact the KRIS 6 News Desk at 361-884-6666 or send us an email.
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