Roommate dispute ends in bulldozed residence
By Catharin Shepard
Published in News on October 25, 2009 2:00 AM
A Wayne County man was arrested Saturday after driving a front-end loader into a mobile home.
Michael Ricks, 27, of 381 Slick Rock Road was reportedly living in the home with two women. After a financial dispute between Ricks and the women, Ricks retrieved a front-end loader from his workplace at Best Sand and Gravel and drove it into the mobile home, officials said.
One woman was outside the home when Ricks approached with the loader. She went inside and warned the other resident in time for both of them to escape without injury.
The mobile home was completely destroyed, Sheriff's Office Investigator Michael Reid said.
"It's totaled, it's gone," he said. "If you look at it, it looks like a hurricane went through it."
Ricks allegedly then drove the front-end loader toward the women, chasing after them. The women went to their landlord's nearby home to call law enforcement.
Ricks reportedly received a minor cut on his head and was treated by emergency medical services. No other injuries were reported.
The property landlord invited the women to stay with him while they salvage their belongings from the wrecked mobile home.
Ricks was charged with damage to real property. Further charges might be pending.
"So far, investigation is ongoing," Reid said.
The incident occurred shortly after noon. Brian Smiley of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office was the charging officer. Bond was set at $1,500. There was no damage to the front-end loader.