A man accused of stealing a piece of construction machinery and taking the backhoe on a ride through North Park has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from Wednesday’s incident.
Liam Quigley, 28, was charged with one count of vehicle theft and two counts of vandalism after allegedly stealing the backhoe from a construction site near University Avenue and Utah Street on Monday. San Diego police said Quigley hit street signs and garden beds until he crashed into the North Park Observatory, causing about $25,000 in damage.
Mission restaurant general manager Guy Guadagni said he witnessed the incident while drinking a cup of coffee Monday morning.
“It was wild. I had to call the police. I had to get somebody out of here. I didn’t want anybody to get hurt,” Guadagni said.
Video shared with NBC San Diego showed the machine rolling down the street, dragging its bucket across the asphalt and sending sparks flying. Photos showed the machine felling traffic signal poles and planter boxes. Another showed police tape surrounding the bulldozer as it sat in front of a damaged sign for the North Park Observatory.
Quigley is due back in court on August 6.
NBC 7
NBC 7 The video shared with NBC San Diego showed a bulldozer driving through North Park. San Diego police say it was stolen.
