North Charleston police video shows slow-speed chase with excavator that damaged business

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The North Charleston Police Department released video Wednesday of a low-speed pursuit involving an excavator.

Officers were responding to another call around 3 a.m. when they noticed a Komatsu excavator crossing over US 78 heading toward the Los Tienda Mexicana, which is a Hispanic grocery market.

In their report, the agency said the excavator was seen driving on the highway in front of the officers just before a burglary alarm was received from the business.

Officers arrived to find the front of the business had been freshly damaged and destroyed, according to the incident report.

A traffic stop was attempted; however, the driver, later identified as 53-year-old Johnny Mesa Jr., refused to stop and led officers in a very slow pursuit on US 78.

Police noticed in their report that the excavator was traveling at around 3 mph for roughly an hour and 12 minutes, despite repeated calls over the loudspeaker for the driver to stop.

Deputies with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office worked with North Charleston officers to block traffic intersections. The excavator eventually entered the Ladson Fairgrounds property, where it became stuck.

Mesa ran along nearby power lines, but he was ultimately captured with help from a Charleston County K-9.

According to the report, the business owners estimated the damage was over $10,000.

Mesa was arrested on charges of failure to stop for a blue light, malicious injury to real property, and malicious injury to real property enhancement. He was booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center.