Florida prosecutors have decided to formally move forward with criminal charges against a man who crashed a Walmart store with a stolen excavator, causing an estimated $2 million in damages.
Police say Jesse Charles Smith, 47, of Trenton, was frantic. On September 11th, a large construction excavator was stolen and crashed through a wall at a Walmart in a popular shopping district, damaging utility poles and wires.
Police said Smith was armed with a machete when he entered Walmart, but threw it away before he could be arrested. According to the arrest report, Smith also attempted to physically resist arrest while being handcuffed.
Prosecutors this week formally charged Smith with grand theft over $100,000, four counts of criminal mischief, criminal trespass while armed and petty theft, all felonies. They decided to drop the charge that he resisted arrest.
Prosecutors said Smith worked for Watson Construction and damaged an excavator, utility poles, storage sheds and fences worth more than $100,000.
Smith’s arraignment was scheduled for Nov. 13.
After Mr. Smith’s arrest, a judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation before being released on bail. The results were handed over to a judge Thursday but were not made public. Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Art Forgery said Smith was under close observation to ensure he did not harm himself and had a history of mental illness.
Smith has prior convictions for theft and robbery in Alachua County in 2018. Smith served more than a year in a Florida prison until January, when he was released about four months earlier than expected, according to criminal court records.
Smith remains in custody at the Alachua County Jail.
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