Gainesville Police Arrest Person Suspected of Stealing Excavator, Destroying Part of WalMart Exterior Wall

Gainesville Police officers arrested a man suspected of hot-wiring an excavator and driving it through the exterior wall of Wal-Mart on 2900 SW 42nd Street. According to Gainesville Police Department, the suspect took out power poles then drove into the southwest corner of the store.

Police reported that no one was injured and that Jesse Charles Smith, 47, was charged after allegedly hot-wiring the excavator from a construction site and causing an estimated $2 million of damage.

GPD officers are currently working an incident at Wal-Mart (2900 SW 42nd Street) where the suspect stole a large excavator, drove it around the southwest (taking out power poles), and then drove through the wall of the Walmart. The suspect is custody. pic.twitter.com/5DY15fQdJZ
— gainesvillepd (@GainesvillePD) September 12, 2023