Wasilla man arrested following a high speed chase

A Wasilla man is in custody after a high speed chase and a brief pursuit on foot Tuesday in the Wasilla area.

Joshua Payton, 28, was taken into custody by the Alaska State Trooper Special Emergency Reaction Team near Walmart after Payton crashed the Pontiac he was driving as he tried to go up the onramp onto the Parks Highway in the wrong direction. After the crash, Payton tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended by authorities.

Earlier in the day, the unit responded to a residence in the Seldon Road area to serve a high risk felony warrant relating to a separate high speed pursuit when Payton eluded authorities on a motorcycle. While in the Seldon Road area, authorities learned that Payton was at a separate residence in the Palmer Fishhook Road area, according to the Alaska State Troopers.

Payton was seen by troopers at the Valley Country Store of Palmer Fishhook and AST tried to use their vehicles to pin Payton’s vehicle. Payton was able to flee at a high rate of speed. Troopers later tried to use spike strips on Trunk Road in an effort to stop Payton, but Payton instead drove down Trunk Road against oncoming traffic at speeds upward of 100 mph.

After Payton was apprehended, he was taking into custody on a $10,000 warrant.

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