A vandalism suspect in Sacramento stole a marked police SUV right out from under officers and led a multi-agency chase at speeds up to 100 mph — raising hard questions about how a civilian can just drive away in a cop car.

Quick Take

• Officers responding to a vandalism call near Marysville Boulevard tried to detain 28-year-old Isaac Pavel, who then jumped into a marked Sacramento police SUV and drove off.
• The stolen cruiser hit speeds up to 100 mph on southbound Highway 99, stretching the chase more than 40 miles into San Joaquin County before ending near Lodi.
• California Highway Patrol officers used a PIT maneuver — a controlled bump to the rear bumper — to slow the vehicle, and Pavel eventually stopped, got out, and surrendered on the freeway.
• Sacramento police say they are still investigating how Pavel got into the locked police vehicle in the first place.

A Vandalism Call Turns Into a Freeway Chase

Sacramento police responded to a vandalism report near Marysville Boulevard and South Avenue on June 7, 2024. When officers tried to detain Pavel, he bolted on foot. Moments later, he climbed into a marked Sacramento police SUV and drove away. Two local TV stations — KCRA 3 and ABC10 — both reported the same sequence of events, putting the core facts on solid ground. What remains unclear is exactly how Pavel got into the vehicle and whether it was left running or unlocked.

From Sacramento city streets, Pavel merged onto southbound Highway 99 and kept going. KCRA 3 reported speeds reaching 100 mph, with a long line of squad cars in pursuit. The chase crossed county lines and covered more than 40 miles before reaching the Turner Road area near Lodi. That kind of distance puts other drivers at serious risk and pulls resources from multiple agencies — exactly the kind of public-safety threat that makes these incidents so alarming to residents on both sides of the political aisle.

CHP Steps In to End the Chase

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers took over as the chase moved deeper into San Joaquin County. CHP attempted a PIT maneuver — a tactic where a pursuing vehicle taps the fleeing car’s rear bumper to spin it out — near Highway 99 and Turner Road. A heavier CHP SUV made contact with the stolen cruiser’s rear bumper. The stolen vehicle slowed. Pavel then opened the driver’s door, stepped out onto the freeway, walked briefly, and lay down with his hands behind his back as officers closed in. ^[1]

The surrender was calm compared to the chaos that led up to it. No crash. No injuries reported. But the fact that a suspect drove a police vehicle at highway speeds through two counties — with all its equipment, radios, and potentially weapons on board — is the kind of story that makes people wonder who is really in control. Sacramento police confirmed they are still working to figure out how Pavel accessed the cruiser, a detail that matters as much as the chase itself.

How Does Someone Just Drive Off in a Police Car?

That is the question Sacramento police have not yet answered publicly. The reports confirm Pavel entered the vehicle, but they do not explain whether the doors were unlocked, the keys were inside, or the engine was already running. No bodycam footage, incident report, or charging document has been released. Without those records, the public is relying entirely on broadcast news summaries. That is not unusual in the early days of an investigation, but it leaves a significant gap in the story.

Stolen police cruiser leads cops on wild chase through streets of Sacramento https://t.co/WG7emHQ1zm pic.twitter.com/he0sgMNRfK

— California Post (@californiapost) June 20, 2026

Police pursuits carry real dangers for everyone on the road. A Department of Justice (DOJ) guide on vehicle pursuits warns that chases create serious public-safety risks and that agencies must manage them carefully. ^[6] Research on police pursuit policies shows these events create a direct tension between catching a suspect and protecting innocent bystanders. ^[10] In this case, the chase ended without a crash or injury — but that outcome is not guaranteed. The bigger concern here may be the security gap that made the whole thing possible. If a suspect can walk up to a police SUV and drive it away, that is a problem worth answering — not just for Sacramento, but for every department in the country.

Sources:

[1] Web – Stolen police cruiser leads cops on wild chase through streets of …

[6] YouTube – Citizen arrests man accused of stealing a Sacramento City …

[10] Web – Who chased off Ignite PI leader Clint Deschene? – Facebook