Flagstaff man accused of leading high-speed pursuit in Phoenix area
Mar 27, 2019, 7:40 AM
Jesse Riggs (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office photo)
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office photo)
PHOENIX — A Flagstaff man was accused of leading authorities on a high-speed chase throughout the Phoenix area on Tuesday, reaching 100 mph at one point.
Jesse Riggs, 34, is facing charges of unlawful flight, aggravated DUI, aggravated assault and criminal damage, Trooper Kameron Lee with the Arizona Department of Public Safety told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
Riggs is accused of leading troopers on the chase along Interstate 17 before exiting at Thunderbird Road in Phoenix and doing push-ups at a gas station prior to being taken into custody.
Calls of a vehicle on I-17 near Cordes Junction driving erratically — speeding, tailgating and making rude gestures — first came in around 2 p.m., according to ABC15.
A trooper spotted the car going 100 mph south of Black Canyon City and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver kept on going.
Another trooper saw the driver drink what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage, according to the television station, while driving toward the Valley.
The chase slowed to a crawl after a trooper used spike strips. Riggs pulled off the freeway and entered a gas station parking lot, where he was boxed in by troopers and arrested.
There were no crashes or injuries connected to the pursuit.
Authorities are still investigating.
