Kendra Mazeke , Digital Content Producer
Kendra Mazeke , Digital Content Producer
FLAGER COUNTY, Fla. – A 56-year-old was arrested and charged Saturday with grand theft after stealing oversized construction equipment in Flagler County, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they found Randy Wealand riding a $60,000 JLG Lull alongside A1A at Ocean Shore Boulevard around 8 a.m.
According to the release, Wealand went to the construction site, stole the lull and took it on a 2.5-mile trip on the sidewalk to Beverly Beach.
Along his commute, Wealand caused $10,000 in damages by breaking several public sidewalks, running over two fire hydrants, a charter communications fiber node and multiple mailboxes, deputies said.
Wealand, who according to authorities has an extensive criminal history in other cities, was arrested and charged with grand theft, theft from a construction site, felony criminal mischief and trespassing on a construction site. He was ordered held on a $12,500 bond.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said authorities were alerted because citizens called in about Wealand’s activities.
“This career criminal decided to go on a joy ride with a large piece of construction equipment,” Staly said in a prepared statement. “Wealand would have caused more damage if he was not stopped and apprehended by deputies. Another win for ‘see something, say something,’”
The Sheriff’s Office’s shared body camera footage from the scene.
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As a proud alumnus of Bethune-Cookman University and Georgia Southern University, Kendra is a Jacksonville native, who loves all things lifestyle and working out when she's not navigating the digital world.
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