Man breaks into liquor store with forklift, leads police on low-speed chase

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska police say a man used a stolen front-end loader to break into a liquor store and then led officers on a low-speed chase early Thursday.

A witness flagged down Anchorage police about 3:20 a.m. to report a front-loader with forklift attachments had ripped off most of the front entrance to a Brown Jug, an Alaska liquor store chain.

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The witness saw the driver go inside, take bottles, then hop back on the front-loader and drive east.

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During a 15-mph chase, police followed the driver into a recreational vehicle park and blocked the only exit with patrol cars.

Police say alcohol bottles were found inside the front-loader, which had been stolen from a construction site.

Joseph Martin is being held on suspicion of criminal mischief, burglary, felony driving while intoxicated and other counts. His bail is set at $30,000.