A Willow man was indicted on multiple charges Thursday after he allegedly led Alaska State Troopers on a high-speed chase in October.
Troopers tried to pull over Ian McCleod Lleshi, 35, near Mile 65 of the Parks Highway for, they said, “speeding and driving recklessly" early on Oct. 9, 2018.
Lleshi, who troopers said was driving a stolen 1999 Dodge 1500 pickup, refused to stop, instead leading troopers on a high-speed chase down the highway, they said.
At least one other vehicle on the road had to swerve out of the way to avoid being hit by the Dodge, troopers said.
When troopers tried to stop the driver using a PIT maneuver near Nancy Lake Parkway, the truck crashed into a patrol car. The driver got out of the truck while it was still moving and ran into nearby woods, troopers said.
Lleshi was arrested two weeks later at a home in Willow’s Caswell Lakes subdivision after a trooper K9 unit and helicopter, as well as state park rangers, were not able to find him. There were reportedly multiple stolen items in the home from three separate burglaries in the Willow area, Troopers said.
He faces 28 separate charges, including felony eluding, assaulting a police officer and vehicle theft.
Check back for updates on this developing story.