Man arrested for hitting officer, car chase

WASILLA -- A Wasilla man was arrested Monday on multiple charges after he allegedly punched a police officer and tried to elude Alaska State Troopers during a wild 10-mile road chase.

Joshua E. Johnston, 19, was taken into custody for first-degree failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, a felony; driving with a suspended license; fourth-degree assault on a police officer; resisting arrest; and on five warrants for his arrest, according to court documents. He was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $25,500 bail and a court-appointed, third-party custodian, in addition to three no-bail warrants from unrelated incidents, troopers said.

Troopers said they were notified at 4 p.m. by someone from a Wasilla business that Johnston, known to be wanted on several warrants, was in the company's waiting room. According to charging documents, troopers called Wasilla Police Department and an officer was sent to the store.

Wasilla officer Angela Long, in full police uniform, approached Johnston and told him he was under arrest for outstanding warrants, charging documents said.

"As Officer Long attempted to handcuff Johnston he spun around, hitting Officer Long in the face once with his fist, and then grabbed the officer's ballistic vest and pushed her down," the document said.

Trooper Paul Wegrzyn said in an affidavit that Johnston left the business' parking lot in a Honda Accord, made several unsafe turns, and continued down Tait Street at an unsafe speed for road conditions. Trooper Lt. Randy Hahn pursued Johnston with his lights flashing and tried to stop the car, Wegrzyn said.

Johnston continued driving about 55 mph on snow-covered roads, once crossing the center line on a blind turn and forcing an oncoming vehicle into the ditch to avoid a collision, the affidavit said. The chase continued for about 10 miles until Johnston lost control of his car near the intersection of Tipe Drive and Wasilla Fishhook Road, crossing the oncoming traffic lane and crashing into the ditch. Hahn took him into custody with no further incident, Wegrzyn's affidavit said.

A witness to the chase, Kari Sleight of Palmer, said a car apparently driven by Johnston "came flying by me on a blind corner," Sleight said. The trooper pursuing Johnston passed Sleight beyond the corner.

"At about Mile 10 Wasilla Fishhook Road, the police vehicle was in the middle of the right hand lane with lights flashing," Sleight said. "The car that passed me was in the ditch and they had him on the ground handcuffing him."

During an interview with troopers, Johnston denied that he hit Long, according to charging documents.

"He also acknowledged that his license was suspended and he is a good driver and will continue to drive without a license, regardless of the consequences," charging documents said.

Troopers said Johnston will be charged with two additional counts of first-degree vehicle theft and one count of second-degree theft. He was wanted for questioning in the recent theft of two snowmachines and a trailer from a residence, troopers said.

Failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $50,000 fine. Johnston was scheduled to appear in court today for a bail hearing and pre-indictment hearing.