Accused fugitive leads police and state troopers on a wild ride

Driver defies spike strips - "PIT maneuver" finally puts on the brakes

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - An accused fugitive led U.S. Marshals, Arizona state troopers, and local police on a 90-minute high-speed chase on two Phoenix highways Wednesday morning.

Mesa police say it started around 11 when a U.S. Marshals task force tried to pull over a wanted man. He refused. Police and marshals gave chase. State troopers eventually joined the pursuit.

Troopers tried deploying spike strips on the 202 Loop to get the man to stop, but he just kept going. A few minutes later, along Interstate 10, they tried again. This time the spikes blew out all four tires and slowed the man down, but he kept driving on nothing but his rims.

Finally, troopers performed a "PIT maneuver." It involves boxing in the suspect vehicle with four cruisers. and forcing him to stop. The maneuver succeeded and the driver surrendered without further incident.

No one got hurt during the chase. The pursuit caused lengthy backups on both the 202 and I-10.

U.S. Marshals say the man was wanted on a 2012 warrant for forgery and theft.