Authorities Say Corinna Man Was Shot After Taking Loader On Rampage

It must have been quite the early morning scene in Garland Tuesday when authorities say a man allegedly stole a loader and after trying to run it into a home, fled the scene into the woods with it.

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According to the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office, dispatchers started to get calls around 5:30 AM, that someone was at a gravel pit off the Upper Notch Road in Garland, and was taking a large front-end loader that didn't belong to them.

"Shortly after receiving the initial call, the complainant reported that the front-end loader was now in their driveway, attempting to run through their house. The complainant also mentioned that the machine was destroying vehicles in the driveway. The initial investigation suggests that individuals exited the home and fired several rounds at the front-end loader. The machine then reversed out of the driveway and fled the scene."

After crossing a field, authorities say the front-end loader ended up on the Center Road in Charleston, where members of law enforcement eventually caught up with it.

The driver, 37-year-old Michael Thompson of Corinna, surrendered to authorities without incident but did let them know he had been shot during his early morning adventure. Sheriffs say Thompson was taken to a local hospital to be treated. After being released he was arrested and brought to the Penobscot County Jail.

According to authorities, the incident is still under investigation, and more charges may be pending.