Residents around the West Way area off of K-Beach Road may have noticed a disturbance on New Year’s Eve.
Alaska State Troopers Captain Andy Greenstreet with the Soldotna Post said officers attempted stop a 2007 four door Cadillac that evening around 11:30 pm which led to a chase where Troopers eventually used a spike strip.
Greenstreet: “That vehicle eluded the Troopers and ended up in a neighborhood off of West Way. The vehicle eventually came to a stop and the driver fled the area on foot. Troopers weren’t able to catch up with the driver however he was identified through the investigation. Also in that vehicle was an underage passenger who had been consuming alcohol.”
The driver was identified that night as 22 year-old Jacob Graham of Kenai and on January 1 he contacted the Alaska State Troopers claiming his vehicle had been stolen.
When Troopers contacted Graham and during the interview admitted he was the driver of the vehicle and had fled because he had been driving under the influence.
Graham was then arrested and charged with failure to stop at the direction of a police officer in the 1st degree, reckless driving, assault in the 4th degree, and false information or report.
Graham’s passenger was issued a minor consuming alcohol on the night of the chase and was released to a parent.
