A solider has been arrested after stealing an armored personnel carried from a National Guard base in Virginia on Tuesday evening.
The man, who has not been named, took the vehicle from Fort Pickett, an Army National Guard base in Blackstone, around 7.50pm, police said.
He then drove the vehicle 60 miles to Richmond where he stopped near City Hall before being Tasered and arrested.
An armored personnel carrier tore through the streets of Richmond on Monday after a soldier stole it from a National Guard base and drove it 60 miles to Virginia’s capitol
Dozens of police vehicles, armed officers and a helicopter followed the vehicle with bystanders comparing it to something out of Grand Theft Auto
Police have not identified the suspect, but sources told WTVR that they believe he is a Virginia Army National Guard Lieutenant commanding an engineering battalion at Fort Pickett.
It is not clear how he managed to get the vehicle off the base, or why he stole it.
Stunned onlookers filmed as dozens of police cars pursued the vehicle along Route 460, Interstate 95, and through the streets of Richmond on Tuesday night.
At some points the APC topped speeds of 45 miles per hour, but fortunately no accidents were reported.
The vehicle was not mounted with weapons when it was taken.
Police officers with combat-style rifles guarded the entrance to Capitol Square as the APC approached while cops tried to stop traffic.
After two hours the vehicle ran into the meridian near Richmond City Hall and the driver got out, before he was Tasered and arrested
Officers spent more than two hours pursuing the vehicle along two highways before it eventually came to a stop in Richmond, where the driver was arrested
A helicopter was also drafted in to keep a spotlight on the vehicle.
Twitter users compared the bizarre scene to something out of video game Grand Theft Auto.
Nico Rico wrote: ‘Lmao someone stole an armored personnel carrier and acting like Richmond part of GTA.’
‘This is INSANE! Someone has hijacked a ‘Tank-like’ vehicle from Fort Pickett and just drove it by our apartment!,’ Parker Slaybaugh, communications director for the Virginia Speaker of the House, added.
At about 9.40pm the driver drove the armored vehicle onto a median and was surrounded by police.
Police Tasered the suspect, who was identified as a military soldier, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Keeli Hill said during a news conference.
Charges are pending against the man, who was in state police custody, she said.
The route taken by the personnel carrier is highlighted in blue on the map above