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Florida man caught with large stolen light pole on his car hood

Suspect charged with stealing pole for scrap metal
Allen Hatley, caught with large pole on car that was stolen
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TAMPA, Fla. — Authorities say a Florida man has learned the hard way that a downed light pole isn’t trash that can be taken and sold for scrap.

The Florida Highway Patrol says a state trooper pulled over a car with a metal pole -- longer than the car itself -- strapped to the roof on a Tampa road Monday morning.

Toyota Camry with large power pole
In this photo provided by the Florida Highway Patrol a downed power pole is strapped to the roof of a car, Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, on Interstate 4, in Hillsborough County, Fla.

Another driver had reported the pole being taken on Interstate 4 near the Interstate 75 interchange.

The Camry’s driver, 71-year-old Douglas Allen Hatley, told troopers that he didn’t realize that it was illegal to remove broken utility and light poles from the side of the road.