At 2:56 AM on March 28, 2022, Anchorage Police responded to a noise complaint on the 5800-block of Jennifer Circle.  A citizen had called Dispatch regarding a person, who was sitting in a white GMC pickup truck, continuously revving the engine for over an hour.  Upon arrival, one officer blocked in the GMC from the front and another officer blocked in the pickup from the back.  When the officers approached the truck, they could see a male sitting in the driver’s seat who appeared to be sleeping.  The suspect, later identified as 29-year-old William M. Coulombe, eventually woke up after the officers knocked on the vehicle window multiple times.  Coulombe partially rolled down the driver’s side window at which time one of the officers began to speak with him.  During their contact, the officer noticed Coulombe displaying signs of impairment. 

Officers asked Coulombe to step out of his vehicle as they intended on administering Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs).  Coulombe refused and turned the truck on.  The officer attempted to open the driver side door but found it to be locked.  Coulombe backed into the patrol vehicle behind him.  When the GMC came to a stop, officers reached in through the partially open window for the purpose of gaining control of Coulombe.  During that effort, the window broke.  As one officer took hold of Coulombe’s arms, the other officer reached in to open the vehicle door.  Coulombe was able to pull one of his arms loose from the first officer’s grasp at which time Coulombe punched the second officer in the face.  The officer recovered and was able to get the door open.  At one point during the struggle, Coulombe pressed the gas pedal which propelled the GMC forward into the other patrol car.  Not wanting to be drug by the GMC, the officers stepped away from the pickup.  Coulombe put the GMC in reverse, backed up, and struck one of the officers with the open truck door.  Coulombe broke free of the vehicle block and drove away.  The officers immediately aired a locate over the radio.

Responding officers located the GMC; they were able to safely pursue due to the road conditions and lack of other traffic.  The GMC became immobile when Coulombe drove into the snowbank at the curve on Merrill Field Drive near 15th Avenue.  After becoming stuck in the snow, Coulombe put his hands out of the window and was taken into custody without further incident.  Coulombe told the officers he had hit his head during the collision; he was taken to the hospital for medical clearance.  While there, his blood was drawn after officers had obtained a search warrant for it.

Subsequent to receiving a medical clearance, William Coulombe was remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the charges of Fail to Stop, two counts of Assault III, Reckless Endangerment, Assault IV, two counts of Criminal Mischief III, and Driving under the Influence.

Later that morning, at around 7:30 AM, officers were contacted by the owner of the GMC Coulombe had been driving.  Through that conversation it was determined the GMC was an unreported stolen vehicle.  The pickup had been parked in front of a residence on the 10100-block of Chickaloon Street in Eagle River, with the keys in the ignition, when it was taken some time after 4PM on March 27th. Coulombe was additionally charged with Vehicle Theft I and Theft II for stealing the GMC.

The officers who initially responded to the noise complaint sustained visible injuries during the assault; they did not require medical attention.

APD Cases 22-9816 and 22-9825

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.