Police pursue senior citizen in military truck; speeds reach 10 mph

A 76-year-old man in a surplus military vehicle led officers on a low-speed pursuit through Huntington Beach before being apprehended Tuesday night, police said.

The call came out as a “suspicious military vehicle” near Goldenwest Street and Edinger Avenue about 7:45 p.m., according to the Huntington Beach Police Department’s Facebook page. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the triple-axle transport vehicle continued south toward the beach.

The pursuit reached speeds upward of 10 mph, police said.

“We’ve been in all kinds of pursuits, but never one like this,” said police Sgt. Guy Dove.

As the pursuit continued south, officers reported hearing loud popping noises coming from the vehicle that were later determined to be backfires.

When the huge truck stopped at Garfield Avenue, police arrested the driver, a local resident who was not identified.

The man, who police said stopped the truck at his business, was cited for failure to yield and released at the scene. The vehicle was purchased in Arizona, police said.

“Just when we thought we had seen it all…” the department quipped on Facebook.

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