Trial held for Lincoln man accused of ramming vehicles with skid loader
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A man went to trial Tuesday in connection with a skid loader rampage in southeast Lincoln.
Lancaster District Court Judge Darla Ideus presided over the bench trial for 36-year-old Samuel Peyrot of Lincoln. A bench trial means the judge — not a jury — will decide the verdict.
Peyrot has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys are using an insanity defense.
WATCH: Man in skid loader damages several cars, LPD cruiser at Lincoln Home Depot
Court documents allege that on Jan. 14, Peyrot drove a skid loader into vehicles at the U-Stop near 73rd Street and Pine Lake Road.
Police said he then went to 70th Street and Nebraska Parkway and caused more damage.
He rammed into a liquor store, police said, and hit several vehicles in the Home Depot parking lot.
A man in one of the vehicles suffered minor injuries, police said.
SEE ALSO: Lincoln man caused over $100,000 in damage in skid-loader rampage, police say
Police said when they arrived, Peyrot drove the skid loader into a cruiser.
The officer got out and took Peyrot into custody.
All told, Peyrot caused $114,000 in damage, court documents say.
SEE ALSO: Lincoln man pleads not guilty to causing $114,000 in damage with skid loader
He is charged with assault on an officer, second-degree assault and five counts of felony criminal mischief.
Ideus will consider the arguments made by prosecutors and the defense and announce the verdict at a later date.
The next hearing in the case is set for Nov. 8.
