Police arrest man after Highway 78 pursuit in an excavator

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A man was arrested early Sunday morning after leading law enforcement in a pursuit with an excavator.

Officers with the North Charleston Police Department responded to an alarm at a business, 9418 Highway 78, where they discovered significant damage to the building.

According to NCPD, officers both nearby and at the scene noticed an excavator that was heading eastbound on Highway 78 “under suspicious circumstances.”

A traffic stop was attempted; however, officials said the operator of the excavator did not stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued.

“Due to the unusual circumstances of the pursuit, our SWAT and Drone teams were notified and deployed,” explained Harve Jacobs, a spokesman for the North Charleston Police Department.

The suspect eventually stopped the excavator at the Ladson Fairgrounds, but the suspect took off into a wooded area. They were arrested without incident with help from a Charleston County K-9.

Johnny Mesa, 53, 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.