Maifea leads police on second chase

ANCHORAGE — A man who was shot in the buttocks while fleeing on foot from Alaska State Troopers in the Knik area last month led Anchorage police on a harrowing chase Thursday that left a half-dozen cars banged up.

According to a press release from the Anchorage Police Department, Albert Samoa Maifea, 35, of Anchorage, was spotted during rush hour on Northern Lights Boulevard and Minnesota Drive at rush hour. His girlfriend, Rose Satele, 33, of Anchorage, was at the wheel. Troopers and Anchorage police were looking for Maifea as part of a drug investigation.

Officers tried to pull Satele’s Honda over, but it sped off, smashing into one patrol car as it blocked the Honda from pedestrians on the sidewalk.

The Honda then hit a civilian car and rammed three APD cars that tried to box it in, bringing the total of smashed up cars to six.

“Satele’s car finally stopped when officers pushed it against a concrete curb with a police vehicle. Satele and Maifea were immediately taken into custody,” according to the APD press release.

Maifea was last in the news on July 4 when he fled from troopers in a maroon Pontiac Grand Prix, leading troopers from Mile 44, Parks Highway down Knik-Goose Bay Road before ditching the car on a road off of Fairview Loop.

“During the foot pursuit, the suspect produced a handgun and was subsequently shot by Trooper (Jared) Noll in the buttock/upper thigh area,” Lt. Steve Adams wrote in documents filed in that case.

Maifea was arrested after his wounding and charged in Palmer with failure to stop for a peace officer, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license. Court records show he posted $25,000 bail through a bondsman July 17 and was assigned a third party custodian to watch him.

Anchorage police report he was not with his custodian Thursday when he led them on the wild chase through midtown.

According to the press release, officers found methamphetamine and a gun in the Honda.

Maifea is facing a laundry list of crimes for the Anchorage pursuit, including six assault counts, six of criminal mischief, three of violating the conditions of his release from jail and one each of driving on a suspended license, drug misconduct, weapons misconduct and eluding arrest.

“Satele was not arrested nor charged with any crime as investigators determined that Maifea seized control of her Honda from her when officers attempted to stop the vehicle,” Anchorage police say.

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