JPD: Man boots mom from car, swerves at police officers

Juneau police say a 23-year-old man threw his mother from a vehicle on Hospital Drive around midday Saturday, and then led authorities on a chaotic and brazen pursuit across town and back.

Facebook user Richard Koddi Moe posted this video of a speeding vehicle swerving into the median of Egan Drive toward a police officer on foot. The officer is trying to use a spike strip to pop the vehicle’s tires. The officer darts out of the way and narrowly avoids being struck.

The Juneau Police Department identified the driver as Cecil Trent Yeisley of Juneau. In a news release, the department said this near miss was one of several Yeisley was responsible for before his eventual arrest. Police say he also drove aggressively at an oncoming patrol vehicle out the road, rear ended another marked patrol car at the McNugget intersection, crossed the Egan Drive median to try to strike another police car in an oncoming lane and drove against traffic down Egan.

According to the release, he had been fighting with his mother, who was trying to get him to accept medical help. Online court records show Yeisley had been in mental health court proceedings in Juneau as recently as October. The proceedings were related to past criminal charges and probation violations.

The pursuit eventually ended near where police reported it began. Police say Yeisley returned to the Hospital Drive area, fled on foot inside SEARHC’s Ethel Lund Medical Center where he surrendered at Taser-point. Police are seeking four felony assault charges against Yeisley and a fifth felony charge for failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer.

The department cautioned that the details in its release were based on preliminary investigation and are subject to change.

Police are seeking witnesses and possible victims of Saturday’s spree of dangerous driving. Call police at 586-0600.

The Juneau Police Department say this vehicle was involved in a reckless driving spree across Juneau on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.
The Juneau Police Department says this is the vehicle involved in Saturday’s reckless driving spree across Juneau. (Photo courtesy Juneau Police Department)

Jeremy Hsieh

Local News Reporter, KTOO

I dig into questions about the forces and institutions that shape Juneau, big and small, delightful and outrageous. What stirs you up about how Juneau is built and how the city works?

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