William Zilys facing multiple charges after crashing a stolen vehicle while impaired

At 6:13 AM on December 1, 2021, Anchorage Police Dispatch was notified of a stolen work vehicle.  Initial indications are that an adult male employee of a snow removal company was at a job site, shoveling snow out of a parking lot near Abbott Road and Independence Drive, when 51-year-old William T. Zilys got into the company’s blue Chevy pickup and drove away.  An officer located the stolen truck pulling out of a business parking lot on the 3800-block of Spenard Road.  As the patrol officer drove towards Zilys with his patrol vehicle’s emergency lights activated, Zilys purposely sped up causing the patrol vehicle to strike the rear driver’s side of the stolen Chevy.  The officer was uninjured; police did not pursue Zilys as he travelled westbound on Spenard at a high rate of speed.

Zilys ran a red light under the O’Malley Road and New Seward Highway overpass, striking a white GMC truck in the process. The adult male driver of the GMC suffered non-life-threatening injuries.  Immediately after the collision, Zilys abandoned the stolen Chevy and fled on foot.  Due in part to statements made by citizen witnesses, Zilys was found hiding behind a residence on the 1500-block of Elcadore Drive.  As officers were conducting the pat search, they noticed an odor of alcohol coming from Zilys’ person.  Officers attempted to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) however Zilys was unable to participate due to his impairment.

Zilys was transported to the Anchorage Jail for DUI processing.  Afterwards he was driven to the Anchorage Police Department for questioning by detectives.  Zilys was subsequently remanded at the jail on the charges of Vehicle Theft I, Theft II, Criminal Mischief III, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment, Assault II, and Driving under the Influence.

APD Case 21-38901