Oops! Burglar Left Wallet Behind on State Senator’s Property, Deputies Say

DADE CITY, FL — A Thursday morning burglary on property owned by State Sen. Wilton Simpson practically solved itself. That’s according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies say the accused thief left a pretty big clue behind at the scene: his wallet.

The crime in question occurred sometime between 7 a.m. and noon on Sept. 29. According to the sheriff’s office, someone went on to Simpson’s 150 acres off Roberts Barn Road in Dade City, went to the barn in the center and proceed to swipe a chainsaw and leaf blower valued at an estimated $600.

After helping himself to the tools, deputies say the person left the scene. When deputies arrived to investigate the burglary, they found something rather suspicious on top of a vehicle. A wallet containing a Florida driver’s license issued to David Biddle, 50, just happened to be sitting there.

Acting on the clue, deputies followed up with Biddle at the Zephyrhills home where he had been staying, an arrest report said. There they happened to find that missing chainsaw in a wooded area, the report noted.

“Biddle admitted to being inside the barn; however, he denied stealing anything,” an email from the sheriff’s office said.

While the chainsaw was recovered, the whereabouts of the leaf blower remains a mystery, the agency noted.

“Biddle would not say where the leaf blower could be located,” the email added.

Despite Biddle’s claim of not taking the items, Pasco County deputies booked him into the Land O’ Lakes Jail on burglary and grand theft charges.

Simpson, a Republican, has represented Pasco County in Florida Senate District 10 since 2012.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office