The raw press release from Eureka Police.
On 6/13/10 at about 8:07 a.m., the Eureka Police Department received a report from Caltrans via CHP that a man had just attempted to steal a CalTrans construction vehicle from their construction zone in the northbound lanes of US 101 at the Slough Bridge.
CalTrans workers were at the scene when a strange transmission suddenly came over their radios. A man, later identified as LAKS Dan – age 40 of Los Angeles, was asking how to get a truck started. When asked who he was, he identified himself as “Dan.”
He had gotten into a construction truck parked at the scene and started it, but couldn’t get it into gear. This particular truck was parked in the traffic lane as a way of protecting workers from oncoming traffic.
After a few moments he jumped out of the truck and began to walk away, northbound on US 101. He walked by several shovels that were leaning against the guardrail and grabbed a couple. He was told by CalTrans workers to put them back, and he complied.
EPD officers searched the area and located LAKS in the rear parking lot of Mid-City Motors. He was identified by a CalTrans employee and was arrested for attempted vehicle theft.
LAKS was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.
