A Walkerton man is among three men accused of stealing a backhoe from the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Kingsbury to tear down the building that formerly housed Windy City Golf Carts in Knox.
According to a published report, three men bid on a demolition job but didn’t have the equipment to tear down the building. Instead, they reportedly stole a backhoe from the U.S. Army Reserve Center.
Franklin Powell, 22, is accused of assisting in the heist and he has been arrested and charged with Aiding, Inducing or Causing Burglary as a Class C Felony and Aiding, Inducing or Causing Burglary as a Class D Felony. On May 22, the men allegedly broke into the grounds and Powell served as a lookout while the two other men worked to steal the backhoe. It is alleged that the men drove the backhoe across some fields and along U.S. 6 and county roads until reaching the job site on U.S. 35 in downtown Knox.
Powell was reportedly arrested when he showed up to collect the balance of the money still owed to the men for the work. The backhoe was returned to the Army Reserve Center but it was heavily damaged from the demolition work.
Charges are pending against the two other suspects in the case.
