Report: Man driving stolen excavator arrested after foot chase

SANDUSKY — Police arrested a man after he allegedly drove a stolen piece of construction equipment and later sparked a foot chase with officers.Gavin Nace, 18, who has Sandusky and Mansfield addresses, was charged Wednesday with fourth-degree felony grand theft along with misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing official business and criminal damaging.Police responded to Fifth Street near Hollywood Road at about 9:30 p.m. for a report of a person driving a piece of heavy construction equipment down the road, according to a Sandusky police report.A Sandusky officer found the piece of equipment, a Yanmar mini excavator, driving on the road. When the officer activated the lights on their cruiser, the driver, a man later identified as Nace, ditched the excavator and ran, the report states.He allegedly hopped several fences before stopping in an alley in the 900 block of Ontario St., according to the report.Police ordered Nace to the ground and placed handcuffs on him before they searched him, the report states. Officers allegedly found a nine-inch knife in his pants.Nace allegedly admitted to taking the excavator from a site on Cleveland Road and Erie Boulevard, according to the report. He also allegedly admitted he hit a vehicle near Fifth Street.Officers later found a damaged Cadillac in the 1300 block of Fifth St., the report states.Nace was taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center before being transported to the Erie County jail. He is held without bond as of Thursday.Visit our Sandusky police hub for more storiesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterGAVIN M NACE