A citizen tackled an accused carjacker near the U-Med district, ending a Saturday afternoon police pursuit that began in Fairview, according to the Anchorage Police Department.
Shortly before 3:30 p.m., APD responded to a disturbance between two men at the 800 block of Karluk. Officers asked both men for identification and one man reportedly lied about his identity and ran away. He was later identified as 26-year-old Jedediah Smith.
Smith allegedly robbed a man for his Subaru Legacy and sped eastbound from Karluk to Debarr, turned onto Bragaw heading southbound in the northbound lanes and reached speeds of up to 60 mph, according to Anita Shell, APD public information officer.
"When he reached Northern Lights, he continued to travel at a high rate of speed in the oncoming lanes (west in the eastbound lanes) causing an 88-year- old woman to crash her sedan," said Shell. "Medics were called to the scene where the woman was treated for non-life threatening injuries while Smith continued to flee."
Police failed to disable the stolen car at Northern Lights Boulevard and UAA Drive and "discontinued the pursuit at that time."
The University of Alaska Anchorage police department followed Smith at a safe distance as he made his through the U-Med district reaching Lake Otis and Waldron Drive where he abandoned the car. UAA police advised nearby APD officer of Smith's location.
"When he reached the 1700 block of Dimond Drive (near Wickersham Park), an alert citizen thought it odd to see a man running through the neighborhood with a purse in his hands," said Shell. "The citizen, 59-year-old Stephen Bauers, tackled Smith and held him until police arrived and took him into custody."
Smith had a felony warrant for his arrest for $5000 for failure to appear for first degree vehicle theft and driving without a valid license, second degree theft and fourth degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.
For Saturday's events, he was charged with robbery, vehicle theft, resisting arrest, eluding, providing false information, four counts of reckless endangerment, assault, leaving the scene of an injury accident and second degree theft.
On Sunday afternoon, Smith appeared at Anchorage Jail Court for the new charges and his bail was set at $50,000.
"Mr. Smith, you're aware of the facts of the case," said Ron Dupuis, state prosecutor during the arraignment. "You put a lot of people in danger with [your] conduct."
State prosecutors say they contacted some of Smith's alleged victims and they declined to appear at the arraignment.
According to charging documents, Smith dumped the stolen car on the 2300 block of E 47th Ct and tried to wipe down the interior of the car and key with his t-shirt. Smith then jumped a fence and went into Stephen Bauers' yard on Dimond Drive.
"I saw a guy come out of my neighbors house, I thought he was just a friend or I didn't know for sure," said Bauers, who was gardening Saturday afternoon. "He started coming out on the street and I noticed he had a purse tucked under his arm, so I thought that looked pretty suspicious."
Bauers says Smith grabbed his bicycle out of his shed in the backyard and attempted to flee. He says the suspect hesitated after seeing he had nowhere to peddle since Campbell Creek runs in the backyard.
"He gave me a little time to gain some ground on him and I probably wouldn't have attacked him so hard, but he had my bike," said Bauers. "So at that time, I figured I was pretty much free to hit him as hard as I could."
Bauers says he banged up his shoulder in the quick melee and was taking a couple of ibuprofen pills to ease the pain.
"It probably wasn't the wisest move I ever made but I just reacted; I get attached to my bike too," said Bauers. "I didn't recognize him and we're a pretty close-knit community around here and we watch out for each other."
Contact Neil Torquiano
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Citizen Tackles Accused Carjacker after Police Pursuit
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