One man was wounded after allegedly threatening a home with a stolen front-end loader on Tuesday morning, according to police.
Dispatchers received a report of “individuals who appeared to be stealing a large front-end loader from a gravel pit” near a residence on Upper Notch Road in Garland at around 5:30 a.m., according to a statement from the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office.
Shortly thereafter, “the front-end loader was now in their driveway, attempting to run through their house,” according to the police statement. “The complainant also mentioned that the machine was destroying vehicles in the driveway.”
Police say people left the home “and fired several rounds at the front-end loader. The machine then reversed out of the driveway and fled the scene. It crossed a large field and went down a woods road.”
At about 6:10 a.m., the sheriff’s office received a report of a front-end loader driving on the roadway, according to the statement. The loader was eventually located by police on Center Road in Charleston.
“The lone occupant surrendered to law enforcement without incident and told them he had been shot,” according to the police statement. “Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the man to a local hospital. Upon his release, he was arrested and transported to the Penobscot County Jail.”
Police did not state what the operator was charged with, but identified him as Michael Thompson, 37, of Corinna.
Police say the incident is under investigation and that more charges may be pending.
Maine State Police assisted the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office.
