Wasilla Driver Arrested on Felony Charges after Car/Foot Chase

trooperarrestA Wasilla driver was arrested on several charges including felonies after taking troopers on a high-speed car chase and foot chase during a routine attempted traffic stop early Saturday morning.

While on patrol at 12:44 am, troopers attempted to perform a routine traffic stop for inoperable tail-lights on a 1998 Dodge pickup on the Parks Highway near Weber Street in Wasilla. But, instead of pulling over for the troopers, the suspect vehicle sped away at a high rate of speed and troopers gave chase. 

After the vehicle chase, where the driver broke several traffic laws, the driver would exit the vehicle and attempt his getaway on foot. But, troopers would apprehend the driver and subsequently identify him as 27-year-old James Ryan Switzer of Wasilla.

Further investigation by troopers would determine that the vehicle Switzer was driving had been reported stolen in Anchorage. The investigation also revealed that Switzer was driving with a revoked license, and that the vehicle’s plates were plates that had been issued to another vehicle by DMV.

Switzer was arrested on charges of Reckless Driving, Felony Eluding, Vehicle Theft I, DWLR, and Improper Representation of Registration.

Troopers transported Switzer to Palmer and remanded to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility with his bail set at $3,000 and a Court Approved Third Party Custodian.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]