Troopers arrested a Kenai man on Hit  and Run and Tampering with Physical Evidence warrants during a traffic stop for moving violations on Tuesday afternoon outside of Kenai, the trooper dispatch reports.

After Alaska State Troopers observed a Dodge sedan passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone on Kalifornsky Beach Road, troopers attempted to stop the vehicle. But, the driver refused to stop and took troopers and Kenai Police Department officers on a chase through the area.

The driver, later identified as 55-year-old Lawrence Karella, evaded officers for several miles and was only stopped after troopers were able to deploy spike strip at the bridge access to the Kenai River Bridge, deflating several of Karella’s tires, bringing him to a halt a short distance later.

Once stopped and identified, troopers would find that Karella was wanted on two outstanding warrants for Hit and Run as well as Tampering with Physical Evidence. Karella was also charged with Failure to Stop for a Peace Officer I, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment.

Karella was transported to the Wildwood Pretrial Facility where he was remanded without bail.

  arrest, chase, hit and run, kenai, lawrence karella, wildwood