Suspect arrested after stolen forklift is taken on wild ride through Orange County: Video

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- A man was arrested Tuesday night after a stolen forklift was taken on a wild ride through the streets of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

About 7 p.m., multiple callers reported the suspect had stolen the vehicle from a construction site and rammed through a chain-link gate on Rochester Street, according to the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Another caller told authorities that the suspect was driving on 19th Street and attempting to ram people, police said.

Officers responded to the area and contacted a victim whose car was struck by the chain-link gate that was carried on the front of the forklift as it moved along Rochester Street. Shortly afterward, Newport Beach police notified Costa Mesa authorities that the suspect was in custody and the was forklift recovered.

"I don't know why he would need a forklift at home. I mean it's pretty wild, but it's Costa Mesa," said resident Stephanie D'Alessandro.

Costa Mesa responded to a McDonald's parking lot and arrested 46-year-old Matthew James Shore, who was identified as a transient, on suspicion of unlawful taking of a vehicle, vandalism, and hit-and-run with property damage. According to the restaurant manager, Shore parked the forklift in the parking lot, went inside and ordered food.

"It was like this homeless looking type guy and he was screaming at me right after I took his order that he needed his food right now, so I just gave it to him," said manager Maddie McNamer. "I guess he parked his forklift right in front of our McDonalds, and that's when the police started coming and everything."

Shore, who was identified as a transient, was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Police said he did not appear to be under the influence at the time of the incident. A motive has not yet been determined.