Man steals construction excavator and drove it into a Florida Walmart, police say

FOX 35 Orlando ^ | September 12, 2023 | FOX 35 News Staff

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A man in Florida is accused of stealing a large construction excavator and taking it for a drive, knocking down power poles before plowing through the front of a Walmart store in Gainesville, police said.

Police said 47-year-old Jesse Charles Smith hot wired the excavator and stole it from a nearby storage area. He damaged other storage units, a Starbucks, and the Walmart on SW 42nd Street during the joyride, police said.

Police estimated the total damage to Walmart near $2 million.

Police said Smith was also armed with a machete.

It's not known why Smith stole the excavator, police said. However, Smith reportedly admitted to detectives that he was on drugs.

[Allegra]

“It seemed like a good idea at the time…”

[dennisw]

He should have tried to procrastinate his death by not getting Koolaid-19 jabs.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I’m aware of that. The bigger machines are insanely powerful and can definitely destroy themselves or blow out $15K-$25K hydraulic actuators in literally seconds. I like to watch the videos from Cutting Edge Engineering, this Aussie guy who repairs the largest size mining equipment used in Australia (or anywhere else) The sheer size of the pieces he works on is amazing. He is crazy skilled. As for operators, letsdig18 Chris Guins is the guru.

[alexander_busek]

It's not known why Smith stole the excavator, police said.

Well, isn't it obvious?!

Because he wasn't able to hot-wire an oil-tanker!

Regards,

[Deplorable American1776]

There's must be a reason for him to do that? Maybe he was a Tennessee Vols fan and was mad the the Gators beat them. Maybe he was celebrating the Gators win over the Vols. We can't ASSUME he is on drugs.

Maybe not, but I'd be 99.9999% certain he was!!! 🤓

[Deplorable American1776]

Police estimated the total damage to Walmart near $2 million.

Something tells me that this guy doesn't have that kind of cash.

I doubt he has $2 million in Monopoly money. I bet he has $5, that he honestly got panhandling. 🤓

[Deplorable American1776]

Jeez, I'd hire him. 🤓 I mean I always hire people with tattoos on their neck and face. I think I'd hire him to sell Maseratis, Bugattis, and Rolls Royce at the dealership. He'd be so honest and my clients would be safe...

Said NO ONE!!

[Deplorable American1776]

In Pasco County, there is a place to play with Construction Equipment. You rent an hour and have fun playing in the dirt...