An Anchorage man involved in a lengthy pursuit Saturday nearly struck several military police officers as he fled from a traffic stop with a child in his SUV, then drove recklessly for miles up the Glenn Highway before being stopped at a busy intersection in Wasilla, authorities and court documents say.
A Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson military police officer tried to stop the Ford Escape driven by 36-year-old William Hopson because he was speeding, according to a sworn affidavit written by Sgt. Jacob Blessent of the Alaska State Troopers. Hopson did not stop.
Several officers tried to create a roadblock by the Arctic Valley Road gate, but Hopson continued driving toward them and swerved away just before striking them, the affidavit said.
Hopson headed north on the Glenn after passing through the gate, it said. Troopers became involved in the pursuit and authorities deployed tire deflation devices on the highway near the Matanuska River, according to the affidavit.
The Escape’s two front tires deflated but Hopson continued driving toward Wasilla, troopers said. He crossed the median and into oncoming traffic, driving nearly 100 mph, and coming close to striking multiple vehicles, the affidavit said.
Troopers and Wasilla police spiked the vehicle’s tires several more times before ultimately using a maneuver that pinned the vehicle and caused it to stop, troopers said.
Hopson almost struck a Wasilla police officer with his vehicle, troopers said. No injuries were reported.
He was arrested. A child was removed from Hopson’s SUV, troopers said. The child was not injured.
A heavy law enforcement presence that included officers with visible weapons could be seen Saturday afternoon at the intersection of the Parks and Palmer-Wasilla highways, where the pursuit ended. Several drivers reported on social media that they had to take evasive action to avoid the Escape before it was stopped.
Hopson told troopers he fled because he was driving without a license, the affidavit said. He told them he smoked marijuana an hour earlier, the affidavit said, but declined to do field sobriety tests. Marijuana was found in the vehicle, it said.
Hopson is facing felony charges of failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, four counts of third-degree assault and misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child and driving under the influence. He was in custody Monday at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility.