Phillip Gaines arrested in Eagle River OUI Hit-and-Run Investigation

At 9:42 PM on July 20, 2022, a citizen called APD Dispatch to report an impaired driver.  The citizen stated she spoke with a male who had driven his car into a ditch; the driver appeared to be intoxicated.  The citizen stated the driver had a small child with him and that both the driver and the child left the area as passengers in another vehicle.

Swing shift officers and Traffic Unit officers responded to search for the vehicle the impaired man had left in.  They located the abandoned black Chevy Volt in the ditch near Hiland Road and S River Lane.  It appeared that the Volt was being driven up the road when the driver drifted over to the right side, over corrected, and then exited on the left side of the roadway.  The Volt crossed over a driveway, collided with a mailbox, and then came to rest nose first in the ditch.

A computer check revealed the Chevy is registered to 41-year-old Phillip M. Gaines; Gaines was confirmed as being the person who was seen driving the Chevy.  Officers received information that Gaines was at a residence on the 2100-block of S River Lane.  Upon arrival at the home, officers were invited inside where they contacted Gaines.  While speaking with Gaines, the officers noticed signs of impairment and they could smell an odor of alcohol coming from his person.  The decision was made to charge Gaines with Operating under the Influence.  Gaines physically resisted while officers applied the handcuffs.  Once outside, officers attempted to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs).  When the first officer began the first test, Gaines lunged at the second officer and then fell to the ground.  Officers secured Gaines’ legs with shackles and then placed him in the back seat of a patrol vehicle.  Gaines was transported to jail without further incident.

Once they arrived at the Anchorage Jail, Gaines provided a breath sample showing his breath alcohol content was almost three times the legal limit.  Gaines was remanded on the charges of Reckless Endangerment, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and OUI. 

APD is grateful to the citizen who witnessed the crash and immediately notified law enforcement.

APD Case 22-23565

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