Advisory

Around 3:20 a.m. an officer was flagged by a citizen stating that they had just observed a Front Loader with a fork lift attachment hit the Brown Jug Liquor store located on the 2200 block of E Northern Lights Blvd, ripping off most of the front entrance of the store. The citizen stated they observed the driver of the front loader go into the store and the driver took some alcohol bottles. Following the collision, the driver took off eastbound in the Front Loader.

Additional officers responded and located the Front Loader in route on E Northern Lights near Bragaw St. Officers engaged in a pursuit and attempted to pull the driver over multiple times. Just after 3:30 a.m. the front loader came to a stop after turning into an RV Park at 4100 Debarr Road as multiple patrol vehicles blocked the exit to the RV Park. The driver of the front loader was identified as 38-year-old Joseph Martin, and he was taken into custody by police. Alcohol bottles were found inside of the front loader. Officers could also smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Martin’s breath and Martin also performed poorly on Standard Field Sobriety Tests. During the investigation, it was determined that the front loader had been stolen from a construction site on Runamuck Pl prior to the collision at the Brown Jug Liquor Store. Fortunately no citizens were injured in this incident, however, there was significant property damage to the Brown Jug Liquor store and damage done to the construction site where the front loader was stolen from.

Martin has been charged with Criminal Mischief 4, Failure to stop at the direction of an officer, Criminal Mischief 3, Theft 4, Criminal Trespassing, Theft 1, Burglary 2, felony DUI, and felony refusal to submit. His bail was set at $30,000 c/c, $50,000 performance and a third party custodian.

APD Cases: 16-21708 and 16-21709

Video of Police Pursuit of Stolen Front Loader:



Photo taken by APD after the front loader had hit the front entrance of the liquor store.