Stephanie Randazzo facing multiple charges after stealing and wrecking a vehicle
At 3:16 PM on January 19, 2023, Anchorage Police responded to a downtown intersection regarding reports of a person on the hood of a moving vehicle. Initial indications are that Victim #1 and Victim #2 were outside of Victim #1’s 97 green Chevy Blazer, helping another motorist get out of a snowbank, at the intersection of E 8th Avenue and Bragaw Street when an unknown female hopped into the driver’s seat of the Blazer and drove off. Victim #2 grabbed onto the door of the Blazer and was drug down the road by the suspect approximately 100 feet before Victim #2 let go. Victim #1 and Victim #2 got into Victim #2’s truck and located the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Stephanie M. Randazzo, with the stolen Chevy in a parking lot on the 900-block of W 5th Avenue. Victim #1 got out of the truck and stood directly in front of the Chevy with Stephanie still in the driver’s seat. Stephanie accelerated and struck Victim #2’s truck. To avoid getting hit herself, Victim #1 jumped onto the hood of the stolen Chevy and hung on while Stephanie drove away. Stephanie drove the vehicle erratically in an apparent attempt to throw Victim #1 from the hood; that attempt was unsuccessful.
Near the intersection of W 11th Avenue and L Street, Stephanie rear-ended a 2011 silver Jeep Compass which was shoved into a 2007 silver Toyota Tacoma (both the Jeep and the Toyota were being driven southbound on L Street when the collision occurred, and Victim #1 was still on the hood of the Blazer). That is where police arrived and contacted the parties involved. Officers spoke to Victim #1 who described what happened and stated the suspect was still in the driver’s seat of the Chevy Blazer. Police saw Stephanie sitting in the driver’s seat; they gave Stephanie multiple commands to unlock the doors. Stephanie ignored the commands and began drinking from a bottle of alcohol. Officers asked Victim #1 for permission to break a window of her Chevy so they could remove Stephanie from the vehicle. Victim #1 gave that permission and Stephanie was subsequently extricated from the Blazer and detained.
During the process of confirming Stephanie’s identity, Stephanie gave police a name and date of birth that were not her own. Eventually officers were able to positively identify Stephanie. Stephanie was asked if she was injured and wanted to be evaluated by medics who had also responded to the scene. Stephanie stated she did want to be evaluated, however she refused to cooperate with medics.
Stephanie was transported to the Anchorage Jail for DUI processing. Once inside the secure sally port at the jail, Stephanie was asked if she would participate in SFSTs (Standardized Field Sobriety Tests); she stated she would, and her handcuffs were removed. As the officers were explaining the test instructions, Stephanie took off running. Both officers gave chase and caught Stephanie quickly. Stephanie was escorted to the ground and placed back into cuffs. Ultimately Stephanie did provide a breath sample which showed that her breath alcohol content was over one and a half times the legal limit.
Stephanie complained of pain therefore she was driven to a hospital for medical clearance. During the drive, Stephanie began kicking the seat in the rear of the patrol car. Stephanie was warned that she would be placed in full restraints if she did not quick kicking the seat. Stephanie ignored the warnings; the officers pulled over, removed Stephanie from the patrol vehicle, and placed her into full restraints. Once Stephanie was back in the police car, she was taken to the hospital. Once there, Stephanie remained belligerent and yelled continuously. Stephanie stated she needed to use the restroom. A hospital nurse offered to escort Stephanie to the bathroom. When the handcuffs were removed so that Stephanie could use the facilities, she took off running down the hallway. Stephanie was caught quickly and placed back into handcuffs.
After being medically cleared, Stephanie Randazzo was remanded at Hiland Correctional on the charges of Driving under the Influence, Resisting, two counts of Escape IV, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, Vehicle Theft I, False Report, two counts of Violate Conditions of Release, and Assault IV.
The drivers of the Jeep and Toyota were not injured. Victim #1 was transported for medical evaluation. Victim #2 was not injured.
APD Case 22-2072
It is not uncommon for theft victims to locate their own property. Should you find yourself in this situation, please do not attempt to recover the property yourself. Call APD and allow us to investigate and take possession of the stolen goods properly and safely. As tempting as it may be to reacquire your own stolen belongings, the attempt could result in serious or fatal injuries.
