A high-stakes pursuit early Sunday morning ended with the apprehension of a wrong-way driver near the Arizona Mills Mall, according to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The incident unfolded at approximately 4:35 a.m. when a trooper assisting with a freeway closure on the I-10 eastbound near Baseline Road witnessed a brown Kia Soul breach the closure and enter the construction zone.
The trooper attempted to intercept the vehicle, activating his lights and sirens, but the driver evaded, exiting at Baseline Road and reentering the I-10 in the wrong direction. The car briefly traveled eastbound in the westbound lanes before self-correcting and exiting again at Baseline Road.
The driver then began driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of Baseline Road. The trooper repeatedly tried to stop the vehicle, eventually pursuing it to the northeast parking lot of Arizona Mills Mall. There, a PIT maneuver successfully disabled the vehicle, prompting the suspect to flee on foot.
The trooper deployed a taser, subduing the suspect, who sustained head injuries during the takedown. Emergency responders evaluated and transported the individual to a local hospital for treatment.
No additional injuries were reported, and the incident remains under investigation.