POLAND — David Hodgkin told a police detective that just before the home Hodgkin was living in was destroyed by fire, he was confronted by three hooded men, one of whom stabbed him in the stomach, the detective said Thursday.

Androscoggin County Detective Sgt. William Gagne said Hodgkin told him three men wearing dark hoodies showed up at his door at 12:10 a.m. Tuesday.

When authorities responded to the fire at 140 Harris Hill Road shortly after midnight, they discovered Hodgkin lying on the ground with a stab wound in his stomach. He was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where he underwent surgery.

Authorities have not yet released the cause of the fire that destroyed the mobile home.

Hodgkin did not know the men, Gagne said, but he appeared to be the target. “He got struck in the head. It could have been a fist. One of them stabbed him.” The men then fled on foot.

Police do not know the motive, but the assault is not considered a random act.

Hodgkin told Gagne that one of his German shepherds may have bitten one of the men, the officer said. “He had the dog growling and tugging at something.”

Authorities are asking the public for help. Anyone who can help identify the suspects or anyone who was in the Harris Hill Road area early Tuesday morning, or noticed someone with an unexplained dog bite, is encouraged to call Sgt. Gagne at the Sheriff’s Office at 784-7361, extension 214.

The three men were described as between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches tall and with stocky builds.

The mobile home is owned by Megan Pettengill, who took out a protection from abuse order against Hodgkin on Monday, police say.