ZELIENOPLE — A Butler man may have to pay $5,446 restitution to two construction companies after he allegedly operated heavy equipment without permission and caused damage.

An officer with the borough police was dispatched to the parking lot at the corner of West New Castle and South Clay streets at 12:51 a.m. on Aug. 20 for a report of men operating heavy equipment, according to court records.

The property will be home to a new borough parking lot, which is under construction.

Two unidentified men fled the scene, but the officer talked to Alex R. Meza, 25, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a bulldozer. Meza allegedly said he was going for a “little joyride” and appeared to be intoxicated.

Contractors later told police that a concrete catch basin was run over by the bucket of a front-end loader. Road signs, copper water line and a push broom were also damaged at the site.

R&B Contracting and Walsh Equipment both provided police with invoices for damages which totaled $5,446.

Meza was charged Monday with misdemeanor criminal mischief and misdemeanor institutional vandalism, because the work site is on borough property, and public drunkenness.

He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in district court Oct. 4.