By Times Staff Writer
Published September 10, 2004
WESLEY CHAPEL - The last time the construction crew saw the big yellow bulldozer was Friday, before the long Labor Day weekend was extended by Tropical Storm Frances.
Come Tuesday, the Caterpillar bulldozer was gone.
"We're figuring someone had some flooding problems and decided to borrow a bulldozer," said Bryan Kearney, executive vice president for Kearney Development Co., which owns the bulldozer.
The bulldozer was driven off from a construction site at Meadow Pointe, near the corner of Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Smith Road. It appeared that it was driven across Meadow Pointe Boulevard because the new pavement was damaged. Where it went from there is anyone's guess. No other tracks were detectable after all the recent rain.
The machine is estimated to be worth $85,000 to $90,000.
Kearney said it's not that uncommon for tractors and bulldozers at construction sites to be tampered with. But, Kearney said, "usually it doesn't go far."
With that in mind, Kearney outfits his equipment with a big letter K on the roof. That way, stolen equipment can be easily located from the air.
As of Thursday, the bulldozer had not been found.
Lacoochee man arrested in drug lab investigation
LACOOCHEE - A Lacoochee man was arrested early Thursday morning after Pasco sheriff's deputies found chemicals and equipment commonly used to manufacture methamphetamines in his home.
Kevin Brown, 27, was arrested at 2 a.m. Thursday after a search of his home at 21125 Flanders Drive in Lacoochee. He was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of essential listed chemicals used in the making of methamphetamines.
Sheriff's deputies arrived at Brown's home after receiving information that there might be a meth lab in his home. According to a Pasco sheriff's deputy's report, Brown gave written permission to deputies to search his home. There they found several chemicals used to make methamphetamines as well as paraphernalia - glassware, tubing, a hot plate and coffee filters. The report also said that a syringe was found in Brown's bedroom and that it contained trace amounts of methamphetamines.
