A Kenai man faces charges of assault and reckless driving after leading Alaska State Troopers on a high-speed chase in Nikiski with a passenger in his car, according to a Nov. 28 affidavit filed at the Kenai Courthouse.
John Love, 33, of Kenai, was driving north near Mile 23 of the Kenai Spur Highway when troopers attempted to stop him for not having a license plate, according to court documents. Love did not stop when troopers turned on overhead lights and siren and instead accelerated to speeds of almost 80 miles an hour, troopers said. While attempting to evade troopers, Love drove the vehicle down Nikiski Avenue, then down Island Lake Road, then onto Ainsworth Avenue, where the vehicle slid into a snow bank, according to troopers.
Love struck the trooper’s patrol car “at least two times” with his car while attempting to back out of the snow bank, according to the affidavit, before leaving the car and running into the woods. Troopers reported the passenger said they attempted to get Love to stop during the pursuit and feared for their life.
Troopers followed Love’s footprints in the snow and eventually found Love hiding behind a car inside a nearby garage building, troopers reported. Troopers also found a .357 revolver with the serial numbers removed and a belt full of .357 ammunition near where Love was hiding, they said.
Love allegedly admitted to driving without a license and attempting to evade the troopers. He is currently on conditions of release for a separate cases that stipulate that Love must not drive without a license and motor vehicle insurance.
Love is charged with one count of failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, a Class C felony, one count of third-degree assault, a Class C felony, one count of third-degree misconduct involving weapons, a Class C felony, one count of violating the conditions of release, a Class A misdemeanor, one count of driving while license revoked, a Class A misdemeanor, one count of reckless driving, a special misdemeanor, and one count of violating motor vehicle liability insurance requirements, a special misdemeanor.
Reach reporter Brian Mazurek at bmazurek@peninsulaclarion.com.
