Drunk driver spins donuts, runs from state troopers

WASILLA — A series of apparently bad decisions including drunk driving, spinning donuts and running from police landed a man and his female passenger in jail on Mother’s Day.

According to a press release from Alaska State Troopers, at 4:05 a.m., a Ford Mustang was reported speeding through the parking lot of Club Hydro on Bogard Road, doing a 180 while trying to leave and almost crashing. Club Hydro is located at the former Mat-Su Resort.

“A male, later identified as Jeremy R. Hildebrand, age 30, of Wasilla, (got) out of the driver seat to check his vehicle for damage after almost crashing,” troopers report.

The female passenger, who troopers pegged as Tamra L. Johnson, 33, of Wasilla, got into the driver’s seat and they took off.

“A trooper with the Bureau of Highway Patrol located the Ford performing ‘doughnuts’ in the parking lot of a nearby church,” according to troopers.

The Mustang took off out of there when troopers tired to stop it.

“The Ford lost control when it attempted to pull back into the entrance of Club Hydro and troopers observed Hildebrand run from the Ford’s driver’s side,” according to the press release.

Johnson stayed with the car. Troopers and the Wasilla Police Department chased Hildebrand on foot and found him in the woods not far from the scene.

Both Hildebrand and Johnson were charged with DUI and refusing a breathalyzer test. Hildebrand was also charged with failing to stop for a peace officer and reckless driving. He was also on probation and found to be in violation of it.

Hildebrand’s bail was set at $15,000, Johnson’s at $500.

Hildebrand’s court record shows convictions for assault and burglary in 2005 and, more recently, a guilty plea to a charge of theft of an access device. “Access device” is a term used in law enforcement to describe a check, debit card or other means of accessing funds in a bank or credit card account.

As of Friday afternoon, Johnson had made bail and been released from jail but Hildebrand was still listed as an inmate of the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

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