In North Charleston, South Carolina, an unusual police chase unfolded early Sunday morning as law enforcement pursued a slow-moving piece of construction machinery along a major highway. The pursuit, which lasted more than an hour, saw officers trailing a tractor excavator at a pace that matched the walking speed of an average adult.
The bizarre chase began around 3:30 a.m. when officers, who were handling a different matter, noticed the sizable piece of equipment crossing U.S. Highway 78, according to the North Charleston Police report. With its treads and a front shovel, the excavator was a standout on the road. Shortly thereafter, police received a report of a considerable burglary from a business that had suffered significant damage, with the slow-moving excavator heading away from the scene.
The sluggish pursuit quickly gained more police involvement. Due to the excavator’s extremely low speed of about 3 mph (4.8 kph), the accompanying police vehicles frequently had to pause briefly to avoid overtaking the machinery. Despite the low-speed chase, officers used their blue lights, sirens, and loudspeakers to instruct the driver to stop, emphasizing that he was under arrest. Meanwhile, other police vehicles worked to manage traffic flow around the unusual scene.
This slow-speed spectacle continued for an hour and 12 minutes until the excavator veered onto the grounds of the Charleston County Fair, where it got stuck. Attempting to escape, the driver exited the excavator, but his efforts were futile as a police drone tracked his movements. Ultimately, a police dog and handler apprehended the suspect.
The 53-year-old operator of the excavator now faces charges, including failure to stop for a blue light and two counts of malicious injury to real property. He remains in the Charleston County jail with a bond set at $22,000, as indicated by jail records.