VIDEO: Man in skid loader unleashes chaos in Home Depot parking lot over alleged theft

Oct 14, 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN/CNN/CNN Newsource/WKRC) - A man in a skid loader unleashed chaos in the parking lot of a Home Depot over an alleged theft Sunday.

According to KLKN, the man used a Bobcat to smash into several parked cars. An eye witness spoke with the station's reporters and explained why he was allegedly doing it.

"I don't know what makes someone do something like that. I guess Nebraska's the new Florida, I'm gonna start seeing Nebraska man headlines everywhere," Zachary Martin told the outlet.

Authorities in Lincoln, Nebraska said the man behind the wheel of the skid loader damaged a number of vehicles Sunday afternoon, including a police cruiser. Officers told KLKN 36-year-old Samuel Peyrot had initially transported the skid loader, which was owned by his employer, to a convenience store using a company-owned truck.

At around 2:30 p.m., authorities told KLKN Peyrot was driving recklessly in several parking lots in the area, before officers eventually confronted him at the Home Depot. Martin told the station he had headed to Home Depot to pick up a few things and watched to see it all go down.

"I seen a Dodge Ram, front bumper on the bucket, up in the air, and I'm thinking 'this dude, he must have stole something' in the Dodge Ram, and that's probably the snow removal guys that got yelled at by loss prevention and what not, to hey, stop that truck or something,'" Martin explained to KLKN.

Martin told the station he approached the suspect in the skid loader to see if he needed any help. The driver allegedly opened the door and spoke to Martin.

"He just, 'Home Depot stole from me!' Wham! 'Ok, buddy,'" Martin alleged to the station.

Martin told the station that he took out a pocket knife and attempted to cut the hydraulic lines on a skid loader to put an end to the pandemonium.

"Only thing going through my head is, 'someone's gotta stop this.' Like there is a Home Depot full of contractors, big burly dudes twice my size. Like, come on now y'all, exposed hydraulic lines. Go get a bolt cutter from aisle five, I shouldn't be the one that's having to do. 'You know what, screw it,'" Martin told the outlet.

Martin told KLKN that he wasn't able to cut the lines, however, and had to get away for his own safety.

Authorities told the outlet that Peyrot struck several vehicles and buildings before he rammed into an LPD cruiser. Officers confirmed to the outlet that one person did suffer minor injuries after having their car struck.

Peyrot finally surrendered to authorities after they drew their firearms and ordered him out of the skid loader. He was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault and criminal mischief.

No shots were fired during the incident.

"The cops finally got him out of the mini, got him on the ground. They were dog piling on him. I'm happy I made it home safe at the end of the day," Martin told the outlet.

Police were unsure of the total cost of the damage inflicted, but told KLKN their investigation is ongoing.