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 stealin g 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. “It was wild. I had to call the police. I had to get somebody out here. I didn’t want nobody getting hurt,” Guadagni said. Video shared with NBC San Diego showed the machine rolling down the street, dragging its bucket along the blacktop and sending sparks flying. Photos showed the machine downed traffic-sign poles and planter boxes. Another showed police tape surrounding the excavator as it sat outside a damaged sign for the North Park Observatory. Quigley is set to re-appear in court on Aug. 6. Video shared with NBC San Diego showed an excavator driving through North Park. San Diego police say it was stolen. ...read more read less