An Alaskan felony suspect was fatally shot on November 1, 2023 by law enforcement after engaging in a vehicular pursuit and exchanging gunfire with Alaska State Troopers and officers.

Michael Grimes, a 45-year-old man from Fairbanks, led several law enforcement agencies on the high-speed chase after he failed to comply with a traffic stop initiated by the Alaska State Troopers due to a felony investigation. During the pursuit, Grimes reportedly discharged a firearm at the pursuing officers.

As the chase progressed, additional officers joined in, including members of a trooper-led narcotics team. The authorities utilized spike strips along with other tactical maneuvers in an attempt to halt Grimes’ pickup truck. Despite these efforts, the pursuit continued with Grimes continuing to shoot at the officers, who then returned fire, striking him.

The vehicle was eventually stopped, but not before an additional exchange of gunfire occurred. Grimes was declared dead at the scene by authorities. A female passenger, whose identity has not been disclosed, was present in Grimes’ truck during the incident and was subsequently arrested on a weapons charge. Authorities have not yet ascertained who fired the shot that resulted in Grimes’ death.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on a standard 72-hour administrative leave, which is a routine procedure in officer-involved shootings. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has taken charge of the ongoing investigation to determine the specifics of the incident, including the sequence of events that led to the final confrontation.

This incident adds to a series of recent officer-involved shootings in Alaska, raising attention to the protocols and procedures of law enforcement engagements in the state.

The Alaska State Troopers and the involved agencies have yet to release more information about the specifics of Grimes’ felony investigation or the status of the arrested female passenger.