Yesterday afternoon, DPS troopers were notified of an occupied stolen Chevrolet pickup traveling northbound on I-17. Spokesman Quentin Mehr says Phoenix police officers had attempted a traffic stop but the driver failed to yield. A Phoenix police helicopter continued following the vehicle to provide updated information. Mehr says troopers attempted to spike the truck a few miles south of Cordes Junction, but the driver evaded the spike attempt. Troopers again set up spikes at Cordes Junction, where they were successful. Mehr says the driver then continued northbound at slow speeds, with troopers pursuing, until the pickup lost a tire and came to a stop. A felony stop was conducted, and the driver was taken into custody. The passenger was acting erratically and failed to comply. Mehr says at one point he exited the pickup and began dancing on the truck’s roof, then re-entered the truck and locked himself in. Mehr says then troopers were able to approach the pickup and take the passenger into custody without incident. I-17 NB was down to one lane near Cordes Junction for a few hours during the incident. Names of the suspects have not yet been released.
