Florida Construction News staff writer
An excavator stolen from a Gainesville construction site crashed into two buildings, including a Walmart, police report.
According to police, a 47-year-old man has been taken into custody.
“The suspect stole a large excavator, drove it around the southwest and then drove through the wall of the Walmart,” Gainesville Police said in a news release. “Officers located another building – a storage unit in the area of 2700 SW 40th Blvd. – that the suspect also drove through.” 
Photos show the storage building was split in half and the Walmart at 2900 SW 42nd Street, had a large hole in the automotive department wall.
Damage is estimated at $2 million including the excavator.
The man was charged with larceny-grand theft, four counts of criminal mischief of $1,000 or more, armed trespassing and resisting arrest, Alachua County jail records show.
The Komatsu excavator was identified as belonging to Watson Construction.
