Sheriff’s Office: Man who led SLO County deputies on chase in military style truck arrested
A man was arrested Wednesday night after allegedly leading law enforcement on a chase from Los Osos to a local beach in a “military style vehicle” — and then refusing to leave the vehicle once it was stuck in the sand, even as deputies used tear gas to try to get him from the truck.
According to a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office news release, the department first received a report of a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot off Los Osos Valley Road in Los Osos on Wednesday.
The vehicle was described as the front portion of a military style tractor-trailer, the release said.
When deputies arrived, the driver of the vehicle fled to Montana de Oro State Park, breaking through a gate and ending up in the sand spit beach area, according to the release.
According to emergency radio traffic during the incident, the man was believed to possibly have a firearm, but Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Cipolla said that was not confirmed as of early Wednesday evening.
According to scanner traffic, the man had allegedly “squared up” against the deputy who stopped him before leaving the area. Law enforcement then followed the man to the sand spit beach parking lot.
Around 6 p.m., law enforcement agencies were attempting to surround that portion of beach where the man was believed to be. They were also attempting to clear the area of civilians — on the scanner they could be heard using a speaker to tell people to leave the beach for their safety.
The Morro Bay Police Department, Morro Bay Harbor Patrol, California State Park rangers and the Coast Guard were all on scene.
According to the release, the assembled agencies were able to set up a perimeter around the truck and then deputies attempted to make contact with the man, but he refused commands to leave the truck.
The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail arrived on scene as the man continued to refuse to leave the truck. At that time, the team introduced tear gas into the truck, the release said.
At about 7:45 p.m., the man exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.
His identity is not yet know, according to the release.
An investigation is ongoing, the department said, and further information is not available at this time.
This story was originally published July 31, 2024 at 6:21 PM.
%20Cropped.jpg)