Police, DA report increase in number of high-speed chases

Palmer Superior Court is seeing an increase in felony eluding cases these days, meaning some are trying to outrun the police, often at speeds as high as 100 mph.

At least three unrelated felony eluding charges were filed by the Wasilla Police Department in one week, while a grand jury indicted two more recently.

"We're definitely seeing more felony eluding cases and we are definitely seeing them at high speeds," said District Attorney Roman Kalytiak. "It seems like all these cases involve, one -- a person being drunk, or two -- wanted on an outstanding warrant, or three -- driving on a revoked license."

Wasilla Police Chief Don Savage says his department is also seeing more cases of suspects eluding police, and he says each case is different.

"If other people are placed at risk or fear, the driver who is eluding can also be charged with assault," Savage said. All the stops have been traffic related, he said, which means lower-level criminal or driving offenses are being escalated to the point of felonies.

This week a Palmer Superior Court grand jury indicted Eric J. Holden, who on Dec. 1 allegedly led Wasilla police on a chase down Knik-Goose Bay Road at speeds up to 90 mph. Wasilla officer Ken Conn reported clocking him moving at 75 in a 55-mph zone, and the officer pursued Holden for a mile and a half. Then the driver reportedly jumped out and ran on foot.

Conn and two other officers chased him down 400 yards later, according to court records, and subdued him with pepper spray.

The officers reportedly asked Holden why he ran and he allegedly answered that it was because his driver's license was revoked. Officers confirmed his license was revoked, pending a felony DWI.

In the Dec. 4 incident, no alcohol was involved, according to court documents.

In another case two days later, Wasilla police again chased down a suspect who allegedly tried to avoid police contact by running away.

Jason Lamb, 27, was arrested by the end of the night on an outstanding warrant, felony DWI, felony eluding, refusal to take a breathalizer, second-degree attempted assault, two counts of fourth-degree assault and resisting

arrest.

Wasilla Police officers had tried to contact Lamb on the Parks Highway and Crusey, when he reportedly fled. His sprint ended in a ditch on Trunk Road at Timber Drive, according to police logs.

On Dec. 3, another suspect tried to outrun police and ended up in the snowy woods in subzero temperatures, cornered by a golden retriever.

Wasilla police arrested Kevin Clark, 20, around 5:30 a.m., and took him into custody. According to police reports, Clark was contacted for failing to yield at Seldon Street in Wasilla. When police arrested Clark, he was charged with felony eluding and on an outstanding warrant, as well as other charges.

Beside the obvious problems of endangering others in the path of a high speed chase, evading police presents special legal problems.

Kalytiak said it becomes a felony charge any time fleeing is paired with another crime, such as drunken driving or driving without a license. As a felony, the maximum potential sentence is five years in jail with a $50,000 fine.

"It's not uncommon for someone to run from police for a relatively insignificant crime, such as a first-time DWI, which is a misdemeanor," said Assistant District Attorney Dave Berry. "The problem is that now they have committed a felony in trying to avoid a misdemeanor."