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 presidential nominee Joe Biden, according to authorities and homeowners, the Associated Press has reported.
Witnesses said that the man took the bulldozer in Haines City on Oct. 24 and repeatedly destroyed Biden signs in full view of people who live in the neighborhood. Haines City Police said James Blight was charged with grand theft auto and trespassing
Former Vice-mayor Adam Burgess, who lives in predominantly Black central Florida neighborhood, called the incident 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 told Bay News 9.
Video taken by broadcaster showed the damaged fences. Blight was also accused of bulldozing down a city speed limit sign, among other signs.
Police said Blight claimed he was too drunk at the time to remember what happened, AP reported.
