BELGRADE (AP) – The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department says an 87-year-old man was the victim of a home invasion in which assailants cut his telephone lines and held a knife to his neck.

Sheriff Randall Liberty says the episode unfolded early Saturday in the town of Belgrade. He says Stanley Lord awoke with a knife at his throat. He says two intruders wearing ski masks and dark-color snowmobile suits proceeded to tie him to a chair, hit him on the head and demand money.

Liberty says that since Lord is deaf, the assailants had to write down their demands.

He says the assailants ransacked the home while threatening the victim. After they left, Lord managed to free himself and drive to a daughter’s home for help.