Alaska State Troopers were involved in a high speed pursuit on the Kenai Spur Highway on Saturday Night, which began in Soldotna and ended in Kenai.
Around midnight Saturday night, Alaska State Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Kristopher Bayes, age 32 of Soldotna, for moving violations. According AST Detachment A Commander, Captain Mike Zweifel, the incident initially appeared as though it would be a routine traffic stop, but quickly escalated to the chase.
“He initially stopped in Soldotna and we made contact with him, and then he took off from the stop,” said Captain Zweifel.
Upon contact with Troopers however, Bayes — who had a warrant out for his arrest — fled in his vehicle, prompting Troopers to pursue him along the Kenai Spur Highway at speeds up to 90 miles per hour.
Bayes then led AST on a chase of approximately 11 miles from Soldotna to Kenai.
During the pursuit Bayes drove recklessly, and Troopers initiated sequential PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuvers before his vehicle was eventually immobilized. PIT maneuvers are a pursuit tactic in which a pursuing vehicle forces a fleeing vehicle to turn sideways abruptly, causing the driver to lose control and stop, usually initiated when the pursuing vehicle makes intentionally collides with the rear-side portion of the fleeing vehicle
Zweifel said Bayes offered little struggle once his vehicle was disabled near the intersection of Marathon Road and the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, “Once his vehicle had been PIT-ed and blocked in, then he gave up peacefully.”
Additionally, once Troopers had Bayes in custody, they discovered a loaded handgun as well as a shotgun in his vehicle.
Bayes is a previously convicted felon. He was arrested by troopers, assisted by Kenai police officers, for reckless driving, first degree fail to stop at the direction of a police officer, reckless endangerment, two counts of third degree assault, fourth degree criminal mischief, third degree misconduct involving weapons, and his warrant.
He was remanded at the Wildwood pretrial center.