Man sleeping in dumpster dropped into city collection truck

HELENA, Mont. -- A man was uninjured but arrested after being picked up and emptied into the back of a Helena collection truck while sleeping in a dumpster.

CBS Helena affiliate KXLX reports the man was dumped into the recycling truck Tuesday morning.

Helena police Lt. Corey Bailey says the man, 47, was only in the truck for a short time because the driver saw boxes being thrown out and heard him pounding on the wall.

Officers arrested the man after learning he was wanted on a pair of outstanding warrants.

Bailey said it appears he was a transient and added the was lucky he wasn't injured.

"It's a major safety concern," he said. "That's not a safe environment. He could have seriously been injured or even killed by being in the back of that garbage truck, so we just want to remind people to stay out of dumpsters."

Helena has a city ordinance prohibiting people from climbing into dumpsters. Bailey said it's intended to discourage people from digging through the garbag