At 8:19 AM on December 8, 2023, Anchorage Police began receiving calls regarding a U-Haul box truck that had struck two vehicles in traffic.  One of the callers was one of the drivers who had been struck; the victim driver was following the suspect vehicle in traffic and was providing location updates to Dispatch.  Prior to police arrival, the victim following the suspect lost sight of the suspect in traffic.  APD continued to get updates about the U-Haul driver’s erratic and unsafe behavior.

A day shift officer initiated a traffic stop on the U-Haul near Boniface Parkway and Boundary Avenue.  The suspect driver did not yield and drove outbound on the Glenn Highway.  As officers attempted to block in the U-Haul, the suspect driver lost control and got stuck in a snow-covered median near the Glenn Highway and Boundary Avenue.   Officers exited their vehicles and gave the suspect driver commands.  The driver, who was sluggish and slow to respond, was compliant and taken into custody without further incident.  During the subsequent pat search, a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine was found in the suspect’s clothing.

Once they arrived at the Anchorage Jail, officers administered Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs).  Afterwards the decision was made to charge 35-year-old Cermando Morales with Driving under the Influence.  Morales provided a breath sample showing his breath alcohol content was zero.  Subsequent to a search warrant being obtained, Morales’ blood was drawn.

Morales was remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the charges of Violate Conditions of Release, Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance IV, two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Without Leaving Information, Fail to Stop, Reckless Driving, DUI, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident Without Assisting the Injured.  He was issued citations for Driving While License Suspended and Driving Without Insurance.

Prior to officers contacting Morales’ he was involved in two hit and run collisions.  The first occurred when Morales was driving westbound on Tudor near Boniface.  Morales passed a white 2009 Ford Explorer travelling in the same direction.  While doing so, the side mirror of the U-Haul Morales was driving scraped down the side of the Explorer which caused damage to the Ford.

The second incident occurred when Morales was travelling northbound in the southbound lanes of Boniface near 6th Avenue.  The driver of a gray Toyota, who was driving southbound, swerved to avoid a head-on collision with Morales.  The Toyota was side swiped by Morales which caused the Toyota to collide with a Chevy pickup that was also being driven southbound.

Minor injuries were reported by the driver of the gray Toyota.  No injuries were reported by the occupants in either the Ford Explorer or the Chevy pickup.

APD Cases 23-39651, 23-39654, and 23-39655

REDDI – Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately by calling 9-1-1.  APD is grateful to all the witnesses who called in Morales’ dangerous driving behavior.  The location updates received by each caller is what allowed police to ultimately locate and stop the suspect.

For information on how to obtain the criminal history of any Alaskan, you may do so online via Court View on the State’s website.