FARMINGTON — Employees at Northern Lights Hearth and Sports shop on Route 2 and 4 used a forklift and tons of wood pellets to block a suspected shoplifter’s truck recently.

Hours later, Joseph G. Atwood, 28, of Livermore Falls was issued a citation on a charge of stealing socks and a backpack from the business, Farmington police officer Darren Gilbert said. Atwood was also charged with possession of illegal drugs and violating probation.

Employee Mike Greenlaw of Farmington said the store was busy last Thursday afternoon when he spotted a customer, later identified as Atwood, with what looked like socks with a tag on them stuffed into his pocket.

Greenlaw said at the cash register Atwood unzipped one pocket and put an item on the counter. When Greenlaw asked him what else he had, Atwood pulled socks from the other pocket, dropped them on the counter and started to leave, he said.

Greenlaw said he stopped him in the store entryway and Atwood pulled out a duffel bag before leaving and running across the highway toward the Mount Blue Shopping Center.

After calling police, Greenlaw said employees used a forklift and tons of wood pellets to block a truck in the parking lot they suspected was Atwood’s.

Police eventually found Atwood walking on Perham Street and arrested him. He was taken to Franklin County Detention Center.

Further information on the truck was not available Monday night.

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