FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A man named Randy Lee Wealand, 56, was arrested August 6 for stealing a Lull construction vehicle, taking it for a ride and causing thousands in damage, according to Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Wealand was stopped by FCSO around 8 a.m. driving the large loader down the sidewalk off Ocean Shore Blvd in Beverly Beach after reports he'd caused damage, FCSO said.
The ensuing deputies investigation found that Wealand had stolen the $60,000 vehicle from a construction site and taken it for a two-and-a-half mile trip along A1A. While on his ride, Wealand ran over two fire hydrants, a communications fiber node, a slew of mailboxes and broke several sections of public sidewalk causing an estimated $10,000 in damages.
“This career criminal decided to go on a joy ride with a large piece of construction equipment,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Wealand would have caused more damage if he was not stopped and apprehended by deputies."
"Another win for 'see something, say something,'" Staly continued. "So a special thank you to the citizens who called us and helped prevent this dirtbag from continuing his dangerous path of destruction.”
Wealand's criminal history includes three felonies in Pennsylvania for criminal mischief, trespassing, DUI, theft, burglary, receiving stolen property, unsworn falsification to authority, harassment, public drunkenness, loitering and prowling.
In Florida Wealand has eight felony convictions for grand theft auto, burglary, petit theft, DUI, boating under the influence, trespassing, battery on LEO, criminal mischief, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, battery on person over 65, exploitation of elderly less than $20,000 dollars, aggressive solicitation, disorderly intoxication, impersonate LEO, resist officer without violence, breach of peace disorderly conduct, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft, improper exhibition of dangerous weapon, simple assault, fraud and possession of controlled substance without prescription.
Wealand's latest arrest is his only arrest for Flagler County where he was arrested for grand theft, theft from a construction site, felony criminal mischief and trespass on a construction site. He was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Detention Facility where he is being held on a $12,500 bond, according to FCSO.
