Mat-Su Times

Press ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- March 14th, 2023 Traffic Pursuit and Assault- Case 23-613DATE: March 15, 2023MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Graham, Public Records & Information, agraham@cityofwasilla.gov

On March 14th, 2023 at approximately 2:15pm, Wasilla Police Department was dispatched to a road rage disturbance at the intersection E Parks Highway and E Palmer Wasilla Highway. A female motorist called 9-1-1 and reported a male suspect had confronted her at the intersection and attempted to open her vehicle doors. She reported being followed by the irate male up the Palmer-Wasilla Highway extension towards S Knik Goose Bay Road. A second encounter occurred, and multiple other drivers called 9-1-1 to report the erratic driving and behavior. Wasilla Police, assisted by an Alaska State Trooper, located the two vehicles as they pulled into the parking lot of the Benteh Nuutah Valley Native Primary Care Center. The suspect immediately fled south on S Knik Goose Bay Road and was briefly pursued by law enforcement. The pursuit was terminated by Wasilla Police for safety reasons due to reckless driving and traffic density.  Law enforcement planned to respond to the registered address of the pickup truck when they again encountered the suspect at the Settler’s Bay Gas Station. When law enforcement attempted to block the truck, the suspect again fled and hit an Alaska State Trooper’s vehicle causing damage. Law enforcement again pursued for a short time and attempted to safely disable the suspect vehicle in the residential area near Bogle Bluff Drive. When the suspect returned to S Knik Goose Bay Road, the pursuit was terminated. MATCOM Dispatch was able to contact the registered owner of the truck who reported their son, Caleb DOTY, age 23 of Wasilla, was the driver and was experiencing a mental health crisis. MATCOM Dispatch, with the assistance of the parent and OnStar, tracked the vehicle to Talkeetna. Multiple attempts were made to connect DOTY with mental health resources including telephonic contact with the Valley Mobile Crisis Team (MCT). DOTY eventually returned to his residence where he was placed into protective custody by his parent. Doty was medically cleared at Mat-Su Regional Hospital before being remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial where he was held without bail. He is currently charged with two counts of felony eluding in the first degree, one count of assault in the third degree, and one count of assault in the fourth degree. Additional criminal charges may be pending.

Wasilla Police Department would like to encourage any citizens who were placed in fear or who had to take evasive action due to the suspects driving actions to contact case officer Opala via MATCOM Dispatch.

Original source can be found here.