Wasilla Man Shot & Killed after Fatally Wounding K-9, AK Troopers

By Michelle Theriault Boots, ADN .com

A Wasilla man was shot and killed by troopers early Sunday after he led police on a high-speed chase and opened fire on a police dog, killing the animal, Alaska State Troopers said.

At 2:50 a.m. Sunday, troopers tried to make a traffic stop on a Subaru Legacy around the area of Bogard Road and Helen Lane in Wasilla, according to a dispatch posted online.

The driver sped away, leading police on a 45-minute chase that ended when police disabled the vehicle with spike strips near milepost 45.5 of the Parks Highway.

“The driver of the Subaru exited the vehicle, ignored commands from AST and attempted to flee,” the dispatch said. When troopers deployed a K-9, the driver “turned and fired a handgun,” striking the dog, troopers said.

“Troopers returned fire, striking the suspect,” according to the dispatch.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters (Image Credit: Robert DeBerry, Frontiersman)
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters (Image Credit: Robert DeBerry, Frontiersman)

The man, 36-year-old Justin Smith of Wasilla, was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center but died of his injuries.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said she couldn’t answer additional questions about the shooting on Sunday, including the name of the K-9.

The officers involved will not be named for 72 hours, per department policy.

Smith had two warrants out for his arrest, for second-degree assault and a probation violation, troopers said.

The dog was the second troopers K-9 slain in the Mat-Su in the past year.

On September 25, an AST dog named Helo was shot by a suspect during a traffic stop in Palmer. Helo was the first AST K-9 killed in the line of duty.

Original post https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2017/03/26/troopers-shoot-kill-wasilla-man-who-fatally-wounded-k-9/