A 26-year-old man has been accused of stealing a bulldozer from a Florida construction site, driving it into a neighborhood and knocking down campaign signs for Democratic US presidential nominee Joe Biden, according to authorities and homeowners.
The man took the bulldozer in Haines City on Saturday and repeatedly destroyed Biden signs in full view of people who live in the neighborhood, witnesses say. James Blight has been charged with grand theft auto and trespassing, according to the Haines City Police Department.
Former Vice Mayor Adam Burgess lives in the central Florida neighborhood, which he says is predominantly Black. He calls it a hate crime.
“This man came onto my property, took the two Joe Biden signs I had in my yard and then came back with a bulldozer to run down my fence,” Burgess tells Bay News 9.
Video taken by the news outlet shows the damaged fences. Blight is also accused of bulldozing down a city speed limit sign, among other signs.
Police say Blight claims he was too drunk at the time to remember what happened. It is not immediately clear whether he has an attorney who can comment on his behalf.
— AP
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