Stolen Fire Command Vehicle Recovered After Pursuit Across Klamath County
Deputies say the suspect was also tied to an earlier arson and burglary at a Highway 97 gas station before the pursuit ended near Malin.
ARREST DETAILS
Arrested
Joseph McVeigh
Incident
Deputies say McVeigh stole a fire command vehicle, led officers on a pursuit, and was linked to an earlier arson and burglary at a Highway 97 gas station.
Charges
-Arson I
-Burglary II
-Aggravated Theft I (x2)
-Criminal Mischief I
-Felony Attempt to Elude
-Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle
-Recklessly Endangering Another Person
-Reckless Driving
-Driving While Suspended
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — A stolen Klamath County Fire District No. 1 command vehicle was recovered Friday morning following a pursuit through southeastern Klamath County that ended near Malin, according to the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement agencies across the Klamath Basin were alerted shortly after 9 a.m. that the command vehicle had been stolen from Fire District No. 1 Station 4 near Campus Drive and Shallock Avenue in Klamath Falls.
The vehicle was equipped with emergency lights, firefighting equipment, radios, and GPS tracking equipment.
KCSO said citizens soon began reporting the stolen vehicle traveling at high speeds and being driven recklessly. The driving reportedly created a danger to motorists and workers in active highway construction zones.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Oregon State Police troopers pursued the vehicle through southeastern Klamath County. The pursuit ended near Malin after spike strips were successfully deployed, disabling the vehicle.
The driver, identified by deputies as Joseph McVeigh of Vida, Oregon, was taken into custody.
As the investigation continued, deputies said they connected McVeigh to an arson and burglary reported earlier Friday morning at the AMA Gas Station on Highway 97 North.
According to KCSO, McVeigh allegedly forced his way into the business, caused extensive damage inside, poured gasoline on a fuel pump, and intentionally set it on fire.
Deputies responding to the gas station were able to extinguish the fire before it spread further, but the suspect had left before their arrival and could not initially be located.
McVeigh was arrested and lodged at the Klamath County Jail on charges including first-degree arson, second-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree criminal mischief, felony attempt to elude, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, and misdemeanor driving while suspended.
KCSO credited reports from members of the public and coordination among responding agencies with helping officers locate the stolen command vehicle and bring the pursuit to an end.
Assisting agencies included Oregon State Police, Klamath Falls Police Department, Malin Police Department, Merrill Police Department, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles, and Klamath County 9-1-1.
The stolen emergency vehicle and its equipment were recovered.
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