On Sunday afternoon in Lincoln, Nebraska, a man allegedly embarked on a violent crime spree using a skid-steer loader. Video footage from the scene captures the moments when he struck multiple vehicles and rammed a police car. The man is now in custody, facing multiple charges, and his motive remains unknown
The suspect in question is 36-year-old Samuel Peyrot. He arrived at the U-Stop near 73rd and Pine Lake Rd. in southeast Lincoln sometime before 2:30 with the skid-steer in tow. Shortly thereafter, officers received the call to help. Peyrot allegedly brought the heavy machinery which is owned by his employer (now former, we’re guessing) to the area with an employer-owned truck.
Authorities say that he damaged two businesses there along with some vehicles and then drove the skid-steer to a nearby Home Depot. There, police caught up with him and video shows the heavy equipment lifting cars, driving around the lot haphazardly, and then ramming into a Ford Explorer police SUV.
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One witness, Zachary Martin, says that he actually went up to the skid steer and asked if the driver needed help. Not knowing what was going on, he reasoned that he was actually trying to stop a theft in progress. Evidently, Peyrot just told him that “Home Depot stole from me,” before slamming the door on Martin.
Martin told KLKN that he then tried to cut the hydraulic lines on the skid-steer in an effort to stop the madness. When that didn’t work, he backed away for his own safety. Police soon thereafter drew their weapons and coaxed Peyrot out of the vehicle before arresting him.
Despite the violent incident, police responded calmly and successfully apprehended the suspect without resorting to the use of firearms, preventing any serious injuries. It remains unclear why Peyrot believed that damaging vehicles, ramming a police car, and getting arrested would resolve his dispute with Home Depot. He’s now facing charges of second-degree assault, second-degree assault of an officer, and criminal mischief.