A man is in custody after a carjacking that ended in a crash into a light pole near downtown Anchorage.
Anchorage Police say they began receiving calls about a man with handgun acting oddly at between 4th and 5th Avenue at Reeve Boulevard by the Taco Bell. When police attempted to make contact with the man, authorities say he stuck his gun in his mouth and then to his head. He refused to listen to police commands and then carjacked a vehicle on 4th Avenue and led officers on a pursuit down westbound 5th Avenue.
APD patrol units attempted pit maneuvers but were unsuccessful.
When the vehicle approached the intersection of 5th Avenue and Ingra Street, APD says the driver of the stolen vehicle drove onto the sidewalk and through a red light. That’s when, police say, the suspect hit another vehicle, causing the stolen car to spin 180 degrees, then sideswiped a taxi and hit a light pole, which is where the pursuit came to an end.
Officers approached the crash site with guns drawn, but authorities say the suspect wasn’t holding the handgun at that point.
The suspect continued to resist arrest, police say, and officers tased him and took him into custody and transported him to the hospital for treatment.
No injuries were reported to anyone involved in the collisions, nor to any officers involved.
The suspect’s identity has not yet been released, but police say he will be charged with multiple counts– including robbery and assault.
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