A Palmer man is being held on $41,000 bail after he allegedly stole a vehicle, then used it to hit a car in which the stolen vehicle's owner was following him, before being stopped by Alaska State Troopers.
Billy M. Walker, 22, faces a list of charges in the incident including five counts of third-degree assault, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief and one count each of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision, reckless driving and not having a valid operator's license.
According to a dispatch on the incident, troopers first received a report of a hit-and-run collision involving a stolen vehicle on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, near the Seward Meridian Parkway, at about 12:45 a.m. Thursday.
Upon investigation, troopers learned that the owner of a stolen 1996 Chevrolet Silverado had been driving another vehicle with two adults and two children as passengers. Upon seeing the Silverado in a parking lot, with Walker at the wheel, the owner tried to speak with him.
"Walker proceeded to ram the other vehicle twice, struck a building with the truck, and then left the lot traveling at speeds in excess of the speed limit, to another location at Bogard Road near Seldon Road where he was again contacted by the complainant," troopers wrote. "Walker then attempted to flee on foot before he was contacted and arrested by troopers."
Only one of the people in the struck vehicle reported injuries, which were treated at the scene by medics. Each of the vehicles involved sustained about $2,000 in damage, with an additional $750 in damage to the struck building.
Walker was taken to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility, where he was held on $40,000 bail for the Thursday charges. He was also held on two outstanding warrants for theft and vehicle theft, with $500 bail apiece.