Siolue Ofiu Charged with Felony Driving under the Influence

At 2:36 AM on July 22, 2023, an officer assigned to the Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit (IDEU) saw a 2010 red Hyundai being driven across the lane lanes on westbound E 5th Avenue prior to A Street.  At one point the driver swerved across the fog line and narrowly missed striking vehicles parked on the side of the street. The IDEU officer initiated a traffic stop by engaging his patrol vehicle’s overhead emergency lights.  The suspect driver was slow to stop; he eventually pulled over near E 4th Avenue and A Street. 

The officer contacted the suspect driver.  While they were conversing, the officer noticed signs of impairment to include a strong odor of alcohol. The suspect was belligerent and refused to answer the officer’s questions.  After providing a name that was not his own, the suspect drove away at a high rate of speed while the officer was still standing next to the driver side window of the Hyundai.

Backup officers were pulling up just as the suspect sped off.  The suspect driver hit the curb as he turned onto Gambell Street which flattened the left front tire.  The officers did not pursue due to the suspect’s dangerous driving behavior to include running at least one red light.  However, officers found the disabled and unoccupied vehicle at E 4th and Gambell shortly thereafter.  Witnesses pointed out to officers which way the suspect had run.

Officers found where the suspect had discarded some of his clothing. They subsequently saw the suspect running through car dealership parking lots.  He was ultimately found lying on the ground next to one of the dealerships on the 700 block of E 5th Avenue.  The suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Siolui S. M. Ofiu, did not comply with officers’ instructions but he was detained without further incident.  After administering Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs), the decision was made to charge Ofiu with Driving under the Influence.

Once they arrived at the Anchorage Jail for further processing, Ofiu provided a breath sample which showed his breath alcohol content was more than one and a half times the legal limit.  Siolui Ofiu was remanded on the charges of False Information, Fail to Stop, and Felony DUI (two or more previous DUI convictions in the last ten years).

APD Case 23-23418

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