A LeRoy man who allegedly stole a forklift while under the influence of drugs and alcohol was charged on Wednesday in Mower County District Court.

Scott Kevin Rowe, 59, pleaded not guilty to charges of felony theft-take/use/transfer movable property without consent, felony theft-take drive motor vehicle without owner consent and felony receiving stolen property.

According to the court report, a Mower County deputy responded to a call at 10:10 a.m. on Sept. 18 from Kahn Tile Supply in LeRoy.

The manager told the deputy that a Bobcat VersaHANDLER forklift, valued at $30,000 to $35,000, was missing from the business. He said the keys were usually left in the forklift.

A review of the security footage showed a white, bald male with a  gray/white goatee taking the forklift at 1:51 a.m. on Sept. 17. The suspect placed a bicycle on the forklift and drove it west toward Highway 56.

The manager and the deputy recognized the suspect as Rowe.

Deputies then executed a search warrant on Rowe’s property in the 11000 block of Highway 56. Rowe was at his residence and told the deputies he had been intoxicated on drugs and alcohol on the morning of Sept. 17. Rowe said if the forklift was on his property, it would probably be near the gravel pit. The deputies found the forklift in some trees near the area he described. His bicycle was still on the forklift. A rearview mirror on the forklift had been broken and the key was missing.

Rowe was arrested and taken to Mower County Jail, where he told police he did not recall taking the forklift or where the missing key was.

The manager of Kahn Tile Supply was contacted and was able to get another key to drive the forklift back to the business.

Rowe is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 2.