Flagstaff (NAZ Today)- At approximately 4:26a.m. on Wednesday, January 20th an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer observed a vehicle traveling the wrong direction (south) on northbound Interstate 17 near the I-17 / I-40 junction.
Officers attempted to pull over the vehicle which refused to stop and began a pursuit which continued onto Interstate 40. Officers pursued the vehicle along I-40 which was closed at the time due to hazardous winter conditions. Since the road was snowpacked and icy the pursuit speeds stayed relatively slow.
During the pursuit officers observed the suspect throwing items out of the vehicle. These items included small baggies with an unknown substance.
DPS officers made multiple attempts to stop the vehicle using a variety of different methods including the use of “stop sticks”, which is a device that is deployed ahead of the vehicle that punctures and deflates the tires. After several spikings, all four of the suspects tires were flat. Despite having flattened tires and icy conditions the subject continued to run from the DPS Officers.
At milepost 179 (16 miles west of the I-17 junction) the decision was made to use the “PIT” maneuver on the suspect. The “PIT” maneuver is a technique that involves using a specially trained officer to hit the back corner of the suspect’s vehicle, causing the fleeing suspect’s car to spin out and come to a stop. Officers decided to use this technique since the pursuit was traveling at very slow speeds and there was no other traffic on I-40. The suspect’s vehicle was pushed into the median where it came to a stop.
After stopping the driver abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. After a short foot pursuit officers caught him and took him into custody. Officers believe that the suspect was under the influence of drugs at the time.
Ramon Cardona Gonzalezs was booked on charges of Felony Flight, DUI Drugs, Endangerment, possession of a narcotic drug and resisting arrest. The vehicle is registered in Show Low, however the suspect has a Flagstaff
address.
–
Listen to the entire police radio recording from the pursuit at Flagscanner.com
Recently Posted Comments