FBI investigating veteran accused of stealing a Humvee from Fort Gordon and leading deputies on a chase

2015-07-06T13:14:37-04:00

From: WRDW
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Friday, July 3, 2015

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WRDW) -- Captain Eric Abdullah of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office confirms a Humvee appears to have been stolen from Fort Gordon. A chase pursued starting on I-20 Eastbound near mile marker 11 and ended between mile markers 27 and 28.

Update: Interstate 20 is shut down near mile marker 29 after a Humvee chase.

The chase started at I-20 eastbound on mile marker 11. The chase continued onto exit 18, heading south on Highway 19.

The chase turned onto Reynolds Pond Drive toward Highway 1 northbound. Deputies followed onto Highway 1, as the driver was driving into oncoming traffic, almost striking a deputy head on.

From there the Humvee turned on Frontage Road heading eastbound. Approximately at mile marker 26, the Humvee went across, and through a fence, cutting through a wood line back onto I-20.

Six deputies caught the driver, and was arrested without incident.

Update: Aiken County deputies say the driver who lead them on a chase in a stolen Humvee is a veteran.

He has been taken to Aiken Regional to be evaluated for 'a possible, unrelated medical condition.'

He was not injured in the chase.

Update: The FBI is investigating a veteran accused of leading deputies on a chase. Aiken County deputies say a heavy duty Humvee, stolen from Fort Gordon, crossed the South Carolina state line and weaved on and off Interstate 20 for miles. Calls about the Humvee came in around Mile Marker 11. Investigators tell News 12 the military vehicle was reportedly hitting trees, jumping curbs, and nearly collided with a deputy. The chase finally ended around Mile Marker 29.

Tammy Hiers was outside her home, prepping for a family party. She says she stopped when she heard the chaos just past her backyard. "We were grilling, and we heard sirens coming down the interstate, we thought. But we looked up and it was on Frontage Road across from the interstate," Hiers said.

She says she looked up to see a Humvee, followed by patrol cars. "Every few seconds it seemed like, there was another group and another group. You know, it seemed like about thirty," she said.

About five miles up the road, patrol cars caught up with their target. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office says the suspect stole the military vehicle from Barton Field at Fort Gordon, where it was on display. Deputies say the suspect was ex-military. "It's just a crazy time now, so we just didn't know what was going on. We had no idea that they weren't all together," Hiers said.

The first call came to dispatch around Mile Marker 11. The chase finally ended about twenty minutes later after deputies say the car swerved on and off the road, left the interstate on Exit 18, and later, cut through the wood line. When the driver got back on the Interstate, deputies say they were able to stop him. Investigators say the twelve thousand pound Humvee nearly collided head on with a patrol car.

Tammy says the sight and the story is one she can't forget. "Well, you think, do you need to go inside? Is it something really bad? Do you just forget about it? Because they kept coming and coming and coming," she said.

Troops from Fort Gordon crossed the river to pick up the Humvee. They say it was locked from the outside while on display.

The suspect was taken to Aiken Regional with a medical condition, but they say he was not injured in the chase. His name has not been released.

Update: According to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, the driver of a Humvee stolen from Barton Field at Fort Gordon is behind bars at the Aiken County Detention Center.

Deputies arrested Michael Warning, 47, of Warrenville. He is charged with with Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Failure to Stop for Blue Lights And Siren, and Attempted Murder. All charges are pending until warrants are issued.

http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Aiken-County-car-chase-311606011.html?device=phone&c=y

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Jul 6 at 2015 1:19 PM

2015-07-06T13:19:44-04:00

Wow! Was not tracking. But I am proud of the local law enforcement efforts

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 6 at 2015 1:20 PM

2015-07-06T13:20:31-04:00

Now to see if this is spun into yet another "crazy veteran" story.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jul 6 at 2015 1:22 PM

2015-07-06T13:22:55-04:00

if your gona go to jail for stealing from the Army at least get a tank

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jul 6 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-07-06T14:02:47-04:00

For our currently serving Soldiers and Service members, this is only one reason why your CSM says to leave a crew for the display vehicle. You have an opportunity to outreach with your community when you have a vehicle on display, an opportunity to discuss the equipment capabilities (you should have your "cheese board" out there) - our citizens are interested to know what their taxes are paying for, they want to sit in the seat and get a photo in the equipment and our operators have an opportunity to talk to the kids as well. It is also about securing the equipment - I imagine the guy went through the gunners hatch or through the turtle back (if it was not locked). I wonder why the guy didn't take the HMWWV off road to get away from the po-po.....I am interested in knowing why he decided to steal it.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 6 at 2015 2:40 PM

2015-07-06T14:40:22-04:00

Wanted a souvenir?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 3:44 PM

2015-07-06T15:44:30-04:00

My wife heard about this and I thought it was just a joke...

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 3:53 PM

2015-07-06T15:53:55-04:00

What ever can happen, will happen.

Response by SPC George Adkins made Jul 6 at 2015 6:42 PM

2015-07-06T18:42:12-04:00

The upside? His VA claim just became a slam dunk if he includes the police report.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 3:21 AM

2015-07-07T03:21:09-04:00

AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Not something I would do of course, but you have to laugh at the testicular fortitude of the crazy/stupid.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 9:10 AM

2015-07-13T09:10:30-04:00

Ok locked from the outside but I'm assuming steering column wasn't locked... Great job to the LE authorities to end this with no severe injuries or fatalities

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-09-10T11:09:00-04:00

This truck is my company commanders. The doors were combat locked bit not the steering wheel. CID has looked at the truck like 6 times. We found out from them you can still get into these trucks even if there is a lock on the door. They are going to push up to CID head quarters about this and then the Army will get this info and push it down from there. Over all damage was minimal. Cracked the hood but not enough to buy a new one. The fording snorkal got bent up, mirror and bracket busted and part of the passanger side window got dented.