Richard Newman arrested for stealing excavator and destroying mobile home
A California man was arrested for destroying a mobile home with a stolen excavator says police. The amusing headlines implied he was “playing demolition derby” or Friday’s tagline that he “couldn’t find a tornado,” but the story was very serious.
Richard Newman, 51, was jailed Wednesday after a neighbor tipped off authorities that the man was tearing down and crushing a mobile home not slated for demolition.
“Newman claims he was hired to tear it all down,” said Erica Stuart, spokeswoman for the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. “The Realtor, managing the bank-owned property — complete with a 4,000-square-foot home and heated pool — says otherwise.
“The stolen John Deere excavator vanished off a lot near Avenue 17 and Road 26 last week, and has been returned to rental company Hertz. Newman told deputies he didn’t steal it — he “borrowed it” and was planning to return it once “his job” was complete, Stuart said
Newman was still in the act of demoishing the home when Deputies arrived at the Bonadelle Ranchos property.
Newman was booked into Madera County Jail, with bail set at $45,000.
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