Court file adds details to trooper shooting

WASILLA — Court records reveal slightly more information about what led up to Alaska State Troopers shooting an Anchorage man on the Fourth of July.

According to an affidavit Lt. Steve Adams filed in the case against Albert Maifea, 35, trooper Jared Noll first spotted Maifea driving a maroon Pontiac Grand Prix speeding eastbound on the Parks Highway near Mile 44 just outside Wasilla.

Noll tried to stop Maifea, but the Pontiac kept going, weaving in and out of traffic and passing vehicles both on the left and on the right.

Maifea hung a right onto Knik-Goose Bay Road, and, Adams writes, continued his poor driving. Speeds reached 105 mph. A lot of the passing happened in no-passing zones.

“The vehicle then turned left onto Edlund Road and continued driving into the oncoming lane but slowed due to apparent mechanical problems as the vehicle began to emit white smoke from the engine,” Adams wrote.

Noll saw the driver reaching for something in the passenger seat. The Pontiac hung a right onto Fairview Loop Road, “and began to emit very heavy white smoke.”

At Twin Peaks Drive, the driver ditched the car. Noll kept up the pursuit on foot.

Troopers have been careful about how they described what happened next when Maifea took out a gun. They say he “brandished” it but made a point of saying they were unsure if he pointed it at Noll or not. Adams’ affidavit doesn’t clear that up.

“During the foot pursuit, the suspect produced a handgun and was subsequently shot by Trooper Noll in the buttock/upper thigh area,” Adams wrote.

The shot “immediately incapacitated” Maifea, and medics took him to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Meanwhile, “the suspect vehicle caught fire and was nearly fully engulfed when fire crews arrived on scene,” Adams wrote.

Maifea was initially arrested after his wound was treated on a $500 misdemeanor warrant out of Anchorage.

Troopers later added charges of driving on a suspended license, failure to stop for a peace officer, and reckless driving.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.