Man Arrested After Allegedly Taking Stolen Backhoe On Joyride In Monterey

MONTEREY (CBS SF/BCN) -- A 56-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly stole a backhoe-style tractor and took it on a weekend joyride around Monterey.

Monterey police responded at 7:34 p.m. Sunday to a report of a man driving a tractor while yelling and acting strangely in the area of Figueroa Street and Fisherman's Wharf II. Upon arrival, officers found a tractor being driven on Del Monte Avenue and initiated a traffic stop.

The driver of the tractor -- later identified as Joseph Bollom -- did not appear to be a construction worker, appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and did not initially comply with an officer's request to get down from the tractor cab.

Officers noticed the ignition wires exposed in the cab of the tractor and numerous tools and construction equipment inside the front bucket, and later determined the tractor had been stolen from a construction company job site.

An ensuing investigation identified Bollom as the suspect in a burglary of a hotel in the 800 block of Munras Avenue. Police later found in his possession property stolen in a string of burglaries reported Sunday.

Police arrested Bollom on suspicion of numerous violations, including burglary, possession of stolen property, vandalism, driving under the influence of drugs and obstructing an officer.

© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.