Wasilla high-speed pursuit suspect makes first court appearance

PALMER, Alaska (KTUU) - A high-speed pursuit on the Parks Highway in Wasilla led to the arraignment of 37-year-old Jenny Alonzo at a Palmer courthouse on Friday. She faces both misdemeanor and felony charges for reckless driving, with her bail set at $1,000 and the condition of electronic monitoring through the Pretrial Enforcement Division.

The situation unfolded when an Alaska State Trooper attempted to stop Alonzo's Honda Civic for speeding in Palmer. According to law enforcement, Alonzo did not comply, igniting a 25-mile chase that extended through Wasilla, which included support from approximately seven trooper squad cars. Although the exact path of the pursuit wasn’t specified, the chase reportedly took place on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway near Wasilla Creek.

Troopers employed "Stop Stick Tire Immobilization Devices" to successfully stop Alonzo’s vehicle by deflating her driver's side tires. Once brought to a halt, she was arrested and charged with Failure to Stop at the Direction of a Peace Officer, leading to her remand at the Mat-Su Pretrial facility without bail.

The pursuit began shortly after 2 p.m. and lasted about 20 minutes, according to Alaska Department of Public Safety’s Communications Director, Austin McDaniel. Fortunately, no other vehicles were damaged, and there were no reported injuries during the chase.

McDaniel emphasized the expectations of the public regarding law enforcement's response to fleeing suspects, stating that the Alaska State Troopers are committed to holding individuals accountable while ensuring safety during such incidents. A preliminary hearing for Alonzo has been scheduled for April 1.