An attempt by the Kenai Highway Patrol to contact a stopped vehicle on December 31 resulted in a car chase and an arrest the next day.

Jacob Graham’s 2007 Cadillac was parked off of a frontage road near Mile 14 of Kalifornsky Beach Road when highway patrol officers stopped to investigate at 11:36 p.m on Dec. 31. Graham, 22, was under the influence of alcohol, as was an underage passenger. When Graham fled the scene in his vehicle, he became the target of a chase that involved the Highway Patrol, the Alaska State Troopers, and the Kenai Police Department.

Spike strips were laid in an attempt to halt the chase, which ended with Graham exiting the moving vehicle and fleeing on foot while his car came to rest in a ditch. The intoxicated passenger was picked up after the chase, cited for alcohol consumption as a minor, and released to a parent.

On Jan. 1, Graham came to state troopers to report that his car had been stolen.

While being interviewed by the troopers, Graham admitted to instigating the previous day’s chase in order to evade a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and is being held without bail at Wildwood pre-trial facility with charges of first-degree failure to stop at the direction of a police officer, reckless driving, fourth-degree assault and false information or report, and if convicted faces a possible punishment of up to 7 years imprisonment and $52,000 in fines.

Reach Ben Boettger at ben.boettger@peninsulaclarion.com