Man allegedly uses stolen excavator to rip up Salt Lake City store parking lot
by Daniel Woodruff & Jared Turner, KUTV
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SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A man was arrested after police said he stole an excavator, drove nearly a mile down the street, and started ripping up the ground at a grocery store parking lot in Salt Lake City.
The incident happened just after noon Saturday, according to Salt Lake City police.
According to a news release, the excavator was left running at a job site at 900 South 300 West when the man got inside and drove away.
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The theft didn't go unnoticed. According to SLCPD, crews from the construction site saw the suspect take the excavator and followed him to a Smith's grocery store in the area of 800 South and 900 West, where he began "randomly digging up the ground."
It wasn't immediately clear if authorities were contacted when the equipment was initially stolen, but a police statement indicates the incident wasn't reported until after suspect began destroying property.
"The suspect caused significant damage to the ground, including hitting a water line and ripping out newly installed fiber optic utility lines," police said. "Crews from Salt Lake City Public Utilities, Salt Lake City Streets, Salt Lake City Fire and Dominion Energy responded to assess the damage and to ensure there was no gas leak."
Police said a large crowd at the store helped keep the suspect from leaving until he was arrested.
Salt Lake City Police Department on Sunday identified the suspect as Omar Ortega, 46.
No one was hurt, and no crashes were reported.
The amount of damage was still under investigation Saturday afternoon.
Ortega was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on suspicion of felony theft and felony criminal mischief.
It's unclear why he allegedly stole the equipment or why he chose that location to dig. Police said the case will be referred to the District Attorney's office, and they don't expect to provide any further details.
