Soldotna Man Arrested After Ramming Police Vehicles, Injuring Officer

Author: KSRM News Desk |

Alaska State Troopers and Soldotna Police worked together to apprehend a driver who was under the influence and refused to leave his vehicle Thursday.

 

At approximately 1:03 am Soldotna Police contacted a parked 2005 Ford F150 in Soldotna. Police Chief Peter Mlynarik says investigation determined the driver, 27-year-old Joshua Roberts of Soldotna, would be arrested…

 

Chief Mlynarik: “The suspect, that was a suspect for a DUI, drugs, the suspect wouldn’t exit the vehicle and in the course of trying to remove him from the vehicle he tried to leave the area but was boxed in by a couple of parked police vehicles.”

 

The Alaska State Troopers online report says Roberts rapidly drove his truck forward about 45-feet into the rear of an AST vehicle and the front of a Soldotna PD vehicle.

 

He then continued to refuse to leave his vehicle and had to be forcefully removed from it by officers.

 

One AST personnel suffered minor injuries during the incident but did not seek medical treatment. Both the Soldotna PD vehicle and the AST vehicle, a K9 unit, suffered extensive damage but were driven from the scene.

 

Roberts was arrested on the following charges: DUI, Assault III (four counts), Disorderly Conduct (four counts), Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief (two counts), Fail To Stop at the Direction of Police Officer, MIW III (two counts) MIW V, Harming a Police Dog II.  Roberts is also being charged with Hindering Prosecution and MICS IV (two counts).   Soldotna PD and AST are sharing case responsibility.

 

Alaska State Troopers report that their K9 officer, Scout, is recovering from minor injuries.