A man accused of stealing a piece of construction machinery and taking the backhoe on a joyride through North Park pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the incident Wednesday.
Liam Quigley, 28, was charged with one count of vehicle theft and two counts of vandalism after allegedly stealing the backhoe from a construction site near University Avenue and Utah Street Monday. San Diego police said Quigley pummeled through street signs and garden beds until coming to a crash at the North Park Observatory, where he caused about $25,000 in damage.
The Mission restaurant General Manager Guy Guadagni said he witnessed the incident as he was sipping on a cup of coffee Monday morning…