Crystal City Police arrested a 44-year-old St. Louis man this weekend for allegedly trying to hit people and run over vehicles with an excavator at the Plattin Rock Boat Club on Hugs Landing Road. No one was injured, but the suspect allegedly damaged power lines with the piece of heavy construction equipment, causing a power outage in the area, police reported.
The incident happened at 11:53 p.m. May 9, and when officers arrived on the scene, they ordered the suspect to turn off the excavator and get out of it. Officers said the man, who appeared to be smoking narcotics, would not comply with the orders, though, according to the report.
Then, when officers tried to physically remove the suspect from the equipment, he allegedly swung the bucket of the excavator toward them, trying to hit them. Eventually, officers broke a window on the excavator and removed the suspect, the report said.
During the investigation, police learned the suspect allegedly tried to run over vehicles and swung the bucket at people before officers arrived on the scene. He also reportedly hit power lines that belong to the boat club, causing about $6,000 in damage, the report said.
Officers allegedly found drugs and drug paraphernalia on the suspect. Crystal City Police will seek charges against him for tampering with a motor vehicle, second-degree assault, assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, first-degree property damage and trespassing.