Crash stops driver fleeing from police

An 82-year-old Douglas woman was not injured after a fugitive fleeing from police struck her vehicle on Monday.

Juneau Police say they tried to do a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jose Angel Muñoz near Juneau Douglas High School. Muñoz, 42, was wanted on a warrant for outstanding charges of felony driving while intoxicated and misconduct involving drugs. Instead of stopping, he fled into the Highlands neighborhood and the officer lost track of him. Another officer later spotted Muñoz’s vehicle coming down Behrends Avenue at high speed and miss a left turn at Glacier Highway. He was hit by a vehicle driven by the unidentified woman who had the right of way at that intersection.

Muñoz tried to flee on foot, but was caught and surrendered to officers.

Police say Muñoz was in possession of narcotics when he was arrested. He was charged with felony misconduct involving drugs in the third degree, felony failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, felony failure to render aid, and misdemeanors of reckless driving and driving without a valid license.

The woman was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure. According to a release from the Juneau Police Department, the woman asked the case officer who came to check up on her if she had helped to catch the suspect. She was assured by the officer that she did.

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