A Sterling man was arrested in the early morning hours Thursday by Alaska State Troopers. Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for equipment violations around mile post 65 of the Sterling Highway near Mystery Creek Road. The vehicle reportedly failed to stop and attempted to elude troopers driving recklessly at speeds in excess of 90 mph and into incoming lanes of travel.
After several miles of pursuing the vehicle, a tire deflation device was deployed, which successfully slowed the vehicle down. Eventually the vehicle became immobilized after troopers used a PIT maneuver, which caused the vehicle to become stuck in a ditch after colliding with the trooper’s vehicle. A PIT maneuver is identified as a pursuit tactic by which a pursuing car can force a fleeing car to turn sideways abruptly, causing the driver to lose control and stop.
The driver was identified as 53-year-old Michael Baldwin of Sterling, who then took off on foot into a wooded area. He was taken into custody after a taser was deployed.
An investigation revealed that Baldwin was driving while impaired by controlled substances and was in possession of 1.25 ounces of suspected illicit controlled substances, which wasn’t formally identified in the trooper report. It also was discovered that Baldwin had felony warrants for his arrest and had absconded from probation for prior felony convictions.
Baldwin was remanded to Wildwood Correctional Center for first degree failure to stop, reckless driving, driving under the influence (felony), resisting arrest, second degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, third degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, the arrest warrant and probation violations.
