Police say the chase ended near Lodi after a roughly 40-mile pursuit on Highway 99.
SACRAMENTO, CA — A 28-year-old Sacramento man accused of stealing a marked police patrol vehicle during a vandalism call was arrested Friday after leading officers on a Highway 99 chase that ended near Lodi, authorities said.
The case drew broad attention after witness video showed the final seconds before the suspect entered the police vehicle and drove away. Sacramento police identified the man as Isaac Paval and said the investigation now includes questions about how he gained control of the cruiser and whether he accessed a rifle kept inside it.
Police said officers were called around 12:30 p.m. Friday to the area of Marysville Boulevard and South Avenue in Del Paso Heights after a report of vandalism. A police spokesperson said the suspect had struck a caller’s window with a stick before officers arrived. When officers tried to detain Paval, police said he got into a marked Sacramento Police Department vehicle and fled. Witness video later aired by local stations showed a brief foot chase and then the patrol vehicle moving away from the scene. Sacramento police Officer Anthony Gamble said at an afternoon briefing that officers shifted from the vandalism call to a vehicle theft and pursuit within moments.
The chase moved onto southbound Highway 99 and passed through Sacramento County as officers followed the stolen cruiser. Local television video showed law enforcement units trailing the vehicle as it continued toward San Joaquin County. The pursuit ended in the Lodi area, near Turner Road and exit 267A, where authorities said Paval stopped the vehicle and surrendered. California Highway Patrol officers took him into custody. A lane of southbound Highway 99 was blocked during the police activity and later reopened. Police said no officers were injured. Paval was taken to a hospital for treatment as a precaution before he was expected to be booked into the Sacramento Main Jail.
Investigators said the patrol vehicle had police equipment inside, including a rifle, and officers were reviewing whether Paval accessed it during the chase. Sacramento police later said they believe a shot was fired from a rifle from inside the vehicle. Police said it was not clear who, if anyone, the shot was aimed at. The department said that finding would add a firearm-related allegation to the case. Authorities did not report any injuries tied to the shot. The patrol vehicle was recovered after the pursuit ended. Police have not said how long Paval was inside the vehicle before the chase began or whether the vehicle’s security systems were working as intended.
The incident began as a local disturbance call but quickly became a multi-agency response across two counties. Sacramento officers handled the first call and the theft report, while the California Highway Patrol joined the pursuit once the stolen cruiser moved onto the freeway. The route from Del Paso Heights to the Lodi area took the chase through a heavily traveled corridor used by commuters, freight traffic and local drivers. Television footage showed the patrol vehicle traveling with a damaged or flattened rear tire during part of the pursuit. Police did not immediately say when the tire was damaged or whether any collisions occurred during the chase.
Gamble said Paval would be returned to Sacramento after medical clearance and booked into jail. Police said he faces numerous felony charges. Officials also said Paval was on pretrial probation in a DUI case at the time of the incident and had a prior criminal history in Sacramento. Formal charging decisions would be handled through the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office after police submit reports. As of the latest police update, the case remained under investigation, including the theft of the vehicle, the pursuit, the reported rifle discharge and the circumstances that allowed the suspect to enter and drive away in a patrol car.
The video gave the public a rare view of the moment before a police vehicle was taken during an active call. In the footage, people nearby can be heard reacting as the suspect reaches the cruiser and the vehicle leaves the area. Police did not immediately give a detailed comment on the video itself but confirmed they were aware of it. Former law enforcement officials interviewed by local media said the case raised questions about patrol vehicle procedures, weapon storage and officer positioning during detentions. Sacramento police have not announced any discipline or policy changes, and the department has not said whether an internal review is underway.
The case stood with Paval in custody and the patrol vehicle recovered. Police said the next steps include booking, final reports and review by prosecutors, with added attention on the rifle allegation and the video showing the theft.
Author note: Last updated June 24, 2026.