63-Year-Old Man Leads Chase with Half-Million-Dollar Military Truck. Photo: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office
Authorities in San Luis Obispo, California, faced an unusual challenge when a military truck, valued at half a million dollars, was stolen and involved in a breathtaking chase. The thief, identified as Patrick Kevin Van Ess, 63, now faces multiple charges.
Recently, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office, in a city with fewer than 50,000 residents, received an alert about a suspicious vehicle, which appeared to be a military truck. A patrol quickly located the vehicle: a massive Oshkosh M1070 of the U.S. Army, used to transport heavy loads like the M1A2 Abrams tank, which weighs 68 tons.
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It is still unclear how Van Ess managed to steal the truck during its transfer to a military base in Southern California. Upon seeing the arrival of the police, he decided to flee, initiating a cinematic chase.
The escape led the thief through Montaña de Oro State Park, where he broke through a barrier and drove to Sandspit Beach. Several local, state, and federal police vehicles pursued him but were unable to stop him until he got stuck in the beach sand.
With the truck immobilized, Van Ess barricaded himself in the cab, forcing the intervention of the Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Detachment, which used tear gas to remove him.
The chase ended with Van Ess’s arrest. He is charged with vehicle theft, fleeing authorities, and destroying public property. In California, fleeing the police and destroying public property are serious crimes, while vehicle theft can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the judicial decision.
The investigation continues, and the truck, which was new before the theft, was finally returned to the military base. According to the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office, the Oshkosh M1070 is valued at over half a million dollars.
Source and images: Facebook San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
