City In Hot Pursuit Of Stolen Generator

    A generator stolen from the City of Umatilla during Hurricane Ian’s pass over Florida has left the city’s police department itching for an arrest, and department officials this week updated the investigation that in the past week has included interviews with individuals who may know about the incident.
   “This one really bothers me,” said Umatilla Police Chief Adam Bolton this week. “I take it as a personal offense.”
   The city had placed the 3500-watt generator at the intersection of SR 19 and CR 450NE on September 28, in anticipation of Ian’s potential impact on the power grid. The generator was to power the traffic signal at the location if the regular feed was disturbed, keeping the intersection safe for drivers and avoiding the potential risk of having an individual at the intersection during the storm to guide traffic.
   Bolton said the theft potential put lives in danger.
   “That generator was there to keep the community safe.”
   The generator was placed and secured on Wednesday, and was stolen during the day on Thursday, just as Ian was passing over the state south of Umatilla. Officers later made initial contact with the alleged perpetrator in Altoona, but a brief chase up SR 19 was discontinued due to weather conditions, emergency workers in the area, and a policy that puts public safety over pursuit.
   The incident took place around 2:45 p.m. The department was notified of a theft in progress, with a witness reporting he saw an individual in a gold sedan get out with bolt cutters and cut a chain that was securing the generator. Then he and another person hoisted the unit into the vehicle and fled east on CR 450, eventually turning onto Fletcher Road and heading back toward SR 19. The witness followed, but was unable to get a license plate number. The UPD engaged in Altoona. Another witness to the incident provided a partial license plat number, which has helped the department hone in on a potential suspect.       Late last week, the investigation advanced with an interview of a person of interest in the case. However, as of Tuesday of this week, no arrest had been announced.
   The generator is valued at $1,000.