Officer-involved shooting shut down Parks Highway near Healy

On Wednesday, parts of the Parks Highway were closed in both directions, between miles 250–257, after Alaska State Troopers (AST) shot and killed a man wanted as part of a felony investigation after pursuing his pick-up on the Parks Highway on Wednesday afternoon near the small community of Healy, located about two hours south of Fairbanks.

According to the AST dispatch, troopers attempted to stop a pick-up truck on the Parks Highway just north of Healy. The pick-up truck failed to stop for the marked AST vehicles, and AST gave chase, heading northbound towards Fairbanks.

During the pursuit, the driver of the pick-up fired at the troopers multiple times. With the extreme risk to public safety, AST and other law enforcement assisting with the pursuit returned fire, striking the driver. Vehicle interdiction tactics, including spike strips and a pursuit intervention technique (PIT), forced the vehicle to finally come to a stop.

After the vehicle was stopped, there was an additional exchange of gunfire between law enforcement officers and the suspect. The driver was declared deceased at the scene; an adult female passenger was unharmed. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident. The Parks Highway was intermittently closed for approximately 3.5 hours as Troopers documented the scene and removed the vehicles from the roadway. The adult male suspect’s body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. He has been identified as 45-year-old Fairbanks resident Michael Grimes. His next of kin have been notified. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of the female passenger for Misconduct Involving a Weapon III. 42-year-old North Pole resident Melody Perry was remanded to Fairbanks Correctional Center following her arrest.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation (ABI) has been called in to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting. In accordance with AST and department policy, the law enforcement officers who discharged their firearm have been placed on 72 hours of administrative leave. The names of the officers who discharged their weapons will be released in 72 hours. Once ABI’s investigation is complete, it will be independently reviewed by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions.

The incident marked the second deadly shooting involving AST this week after a shooting at the Three Bears Motel in Tok on Monday. AST identified Trooper Timothy Rosario, a 3-year veteran of the department, who is assigned to the Tok, as the officer involved in the shooting.

That incident occurred after AST received a call from the motel stating a male, later identified as 21-year-old Northway resident Timothy Thomas, was attempting to break into the motel room. AST-responded to the motel, observing an adult male brandishing an AK-47-style rifle outside of the motel. Due to the suspect’s actions, the Trooper shot the adult male. Thomas was declared deceased at the scene. No Troopers or other individuals were injured.

Thomas’ next of kin have been notified, and his body is being sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

The ABI is actively investigating the circumstances involving both incidents. Once their investigations are complete, they will be independently reviewed by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions.