Driver in Military Truck Leads Calif. Sheriff's Deputies on Chase

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office released further details on the incident that had law enforcement deploying tear gas inside a military style vehicle on a North Coast beach Tuesday night.

According to a news release, the Sheriff's Office first received a report of a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot off Los Osos Valley Road in Los Osos.

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.

SLO County Sheriff's Office deputies, Harbor Patrol, Coast Guard and California State Park rangers were able to set up a perimeter around the truck, the release said, 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.

Update, 7:30 p.m.:

Law enforcement surrounded the military-type vehicle and were attempting to get a man inside to leave the vehicle, according to emergency scanner traffic Tuesday evening.

The man — who was described as "agitated" — had so far refused multiple attempts to get him from the vehicle, which included gas, according to scanner traffic.

As of 7:40 p.m. the man was reportedly outside of the cab of the vehicle.

Original story:

A large law enforcement presence responded to the sand spit at Montana de Oro State Park on Wednesday evening after a man in a military-type vehicle allegedly "squared up" against a deputy before reportedly leading authorities on a chase.

According to San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tony Cipolla, the agency responded to a report of a suspicious military-type vehicle and tried to initiate a traffic stop.

Cipolla said the driver then fled into the Montana De Oro area.

"The vehicle is stopped at this time," he said. "And we are attempting to make contact with the driver."

The man was believed to possibly have a firearm, according to emergency radio traffic, but Cipolla said that had not been 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.

According to scanner traffic, as of 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 and on the scanner 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 and the Coast Guard were all on scene.

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