At 4:29 AM on June 27, 2023, Anchorage Police Dispatch received a REDDI call from a citizen regarding a Toyota 4Runner that was being driven at high speeds, and swerving in and out of lanes, inbound on the Glenn Highway near the Mirror Lake Exit.  A mid-shift patrol officer spotted the vehicle near the North Eagle River Exit; he witnessed the suspect driver display the driving behavior the citizen caller had described.  The officer also saw the suspect almost strike other vehicles with his SUV.

The officer initiated a traffic stop by activating his emergency lights.  The driver accelerated; the officer terminated the pursuit due to the driver’s dangerous driving behavior.  The suspect continued driving recklessly; the officer was able to keep eyes on the driver from a distance while giving other officers time to respond to the area.

The driver, later identified as 33-year-old Tommie Tebbitts, was traveling in the far-right lane of the Glenn Highway just prior to the Muldoon exit when he accelerated while attempting to take the off-ramp, abruptly turned left, overcorrected, spun out, and rolled at least once coming to rest in the center median of the Glenn.  Officers witnessed the crash.  As patrol vehicles pulled up to the scene, Tebbitts crawled out of the vehicle through a window, and started to walk away.  Because officers were so close, they were able to go hand-on before Tebbitts could leave.  Tebbitts was slow to respond to commands but was eventually placed into handcuffs.  During their interaction with Tebbitts, officers noticed signs of impairment.

Tebbitts refused to participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs).  He was subsequently transported to the Anchorage Jail for Processing.  While there, Tebbitts refused to provide a breath sample.  Tebbitts’ blood was drawn once a search warrant was obtained.  Tebbitts was remanded on two outstanding warrants.  He was additionally charged with Refusal, two counts of Assault III, Fail to Stop, and Felony DUI (two or more previous DUI convictions in the last ten years).  He was also cited for Speeding, Driving While License Suspended, Careless Driving, and No Insurance.

There were two people in the car with Tebbitts at the time of the crash.  The front seat adult male passenger suffered minor injuries.  The female teenager seated in the back was transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.  Both passengers were placed in fear of physical harm as a result of Tebbitts’ driving.

REDDI – Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately by calling 9-1-1.  Anchorage Police are grateful to the citizens who called in the dangerous driving behavior and for those who gave witness statements.

APD Case 23-20508

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.