Alaska State Troopers received a REDDI report on a vehicle at mile 171 on the Sterling Highway at 3:05 pm on Thursday and responded to the report.

Troopers were able to locate the vehicle a short time later at mile 161 of the highway and attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle. But, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 30-year-old Paul Suter of Homer, sped off from the officers and took them “on a short pursuit before losing control and crashing into the ditch,” the trooper dispatch reported.

But, Suter was not ready to give up, and fled into the woods on foot. Troopers were unable to find him.

A short time later, troopers received a report of a stolen white, Dodge 2500 in the same area that Suter had given troopers the slip. It was not long before troopers observed the stolen vehicle heading back to Homer on the highway. Troopers took up pursuit, and Homer police joined in, as Suter took them on a chase down the highway, right through Homer, and finally ending up in the Homer Boat Yard.

Suter once again attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended by two Homer police officers.[xyz-ihs snippet=”adsense-body-ad”]The suspect was determined to have been driving under the influence. Suter has a prior Felony DUI and so had that same charge leveled at him again.

Following his arrest, and after being medically cleared, Suter was transported to the Homer Jail, he was remanded there, and charged with Failure to Stop I x2, Felony DUI, Assault III(for two motorists that were almost struck by the fleeing Suter), Driving with a Revoked License (his license is revoked until 2060), Reckless Driving, Vehicle Theft I, and Resisting Arrest.

In addition, Suter was wanted on outstanding warrants for the charge of Theft III in connection with a generator theft from a cabin near mile 9 of East End Road in September, and Violation of Felony Probation, Criminal Trespass I and DWLR. During that incident, Suter was able evade arresting officers after driving into a large field on Valleyside Drive off of the Sterling Highway, then exiting the vehicle and fleeing  into the woods.

Troopers are seeking other motorists that had to take evasive action from Suter during Thursday’s pursuit. They are asked to call 235-8239.

Suter is being held without bail pending arraignment.

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  Alaska, arrest, assault, chase, dui, east end road, homer, paul suter, sterling highway, theft, warrants