Driver leads police on chase across Phoenix area, crashes in Tempe

PHOENIX — A driver led police on a chase across the Phoenix area on Wednesday before violently crashing in Tempe near the Arizona State University campus.

Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers first tried to stop the driver, 31-year-old Indiana resident Mitchell Taebel, on northbound State Route 85 for a driving violation about 10 a.m.

Taebel allegedly fled the area and merged onto the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10. Speeds hit as high as 115 mph.

DPS said Taebel has an extensive criminal record in multiple states. The vehicle, a maroon Jeep SUV with black racing stripes, had California license plates.

News helicopter footage showed about a dozen law enforcement vehicles were following the SUV through the West Valley without disrupting traffic.

Taebel drove through downtown Phoenix before getting on the eastbound Loop 202.

Taebel got off the freeway on Scottsdale Road and drove south toward Arizona State University. He stopped at a red light and took off after his truck was rammed by law enforcement.

Taebel drove at a high speed down the road for a short distance and ran several red lights before striking another car head-on near Rural Road near Apache Boulevard.

The 47-year-old woman he hit was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Taebel suffered minor injuries.

The cars were dozens of feet apart after the collision.

Taebel was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer and endangerment. He was charged with one count each of unlawful flight from a law enforcement vehicle, exceeding 85 mph and reckless driving.

Most of those crimes are felonies.

Court documents showed he was on the phone with multiple negotiators during the chase. Taebel allegedly said he fled from the traffic stop because it was unlawful and retained the right to kill an officer should his freedom be infringed upon. He requested a peaceful resolution to the chase.

Taebel also requested the city attorney general — there is no such position in Tempe — come to the police station after his arrest. He told investigators he had called the mayor’s office and wanted to be interviewed by the media.

“We are aware that Mr. Taebel has anti-government views,” a release from DPS said.

Asked about the anti-government statements, defense attorney Brian Russo said, “I think it’s more that he’s been previously diagnosed with some mental health issues and they have not been addressed. I don’t think it’s one political issue or another. That’s not what is driving this.”

Russo said he couldn’t provide details on the mental health diagnosis. “We do know from the family he was being treated, he was seeing someone,” the attorney said.

Taebel spoke to several TV stations from Maricopa County Jail on Thursday. Cuffed and in an orange prison uniform, Taebel threatened to file a lawsuit if he was not released immediately.

“If you review the footage on the highway, I was hardly speeding _ just driving along. At the very end there, it was an unfortunate attempt to resist an unlawful arrest,” Taebel said.

When reached for comment, Russo said he was not aware his client was speaking to media but reiterated his “well-documented” mental issues.

Rural Road was closed in the area of the crash and was not reopened until just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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