Pole problem gets man seen with saw arrested for criminal mischief

MOUNT DORA, Fla. (TND) — This call to sheriff's deputies was about a man "taking things from the property," according to the suspect's arrest report.

A deputy in Florida reported getting to the scene Wednesday afternoon, April 26, and a representative of the community said he got a call from one of the residents who told him Jason Daniel DeWalt “was outside with a saw, cutting the bell pole.”

The representative said he called a neighbor “and asked him if he could go outside to witness Jason cutting the bell.”

The representative then explained, “He confronted Jason about damaging the bell pole, and while being confronted, Jason took off running towards his house.”

He estimated it would cost $550 to repair the pole.

Next, the deputy said the neighbor reported seeing “Jason using a saw to cut the bell pole,” and he took pictures as evidence.

Then, he said, “He shouted, ‘I’m going to call the cops,’ and Jason started to walk away from the area.”

The deputy reported seeing the bell pole with the laceration where it appeared to be cut.

Finally, the deputy wrote in the arrest report, “I spoke with Jason who admitted to attempting to cut down the pole because he wanted to donate it to a park.

“He explained that he felt the community had taken things from him, so he wanted to take something back from the community.

“When Jason was confronted with the photographic evidence, he clarified to me that it was him in the picture, he had to go home, shower and change his clothes before returning outside.”

DeWalt, 49, was charged with criminal mischief and damage between $200 and $1,000. He spent the night in jail before his release in lieu of $1,000 bond.