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The suspect who police say showed a gun downtown Sunday morning then led police on a chase towards West Anchorage made his first court appearance Monday afternoon.
Court documents reveal that 34-year-old Lusia Kalakaua Pedro was charged with four counts, including failure to stop at a direction of a peace officer, two counts of assault in the third degree, and misconduct involving weapons in the third degree.
Around 3:00 a.m. Feb. 24, Pedro allegedly pointed a black firearm out of a vehicle and yelled at everyone to get out of his way behind the Gaslight Lounge on 4th Ave. A woman called 911 and provided a license plate to the vehicle, which police said was a Dodge Charger. Police spotted the vehicle minutes later in the area of 3rd Ave and Ingra St.
An Anchorage Police Department Sergeant pulled Pedro over at the intersection of 5th Ave and Karluk St and waited for other officers to assist. Two other patrol vehicles arrived and blocked Pedro in. All three officers stepped outside their vehicle to make contact with Pedro’s vehicle. Police said Pedro put his Dodge in reverse placing two of the officers in fear that they would be injured by the vehicle. One of the officers fired at the vehicle backing up, and Pedro sped away nearly striking the police Sergeant.
Police chased Pedro as he drove downtown at speeds of 70 miles per hour. Spike strips were set-up at 5th Ave and C Street and Pedro drove over the strips and failed to stop at several red lights. He turned on L Street as it turned into Minnesota Drive, reaching speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. Police said it appeared Pedro was having a hard time controlling the vehicle because the spike strips had torn the tires.
Pedro threw a loaded black handgun out of the window south on Minnesota Drive. Police later seized the gun after the chase.
A police vehicle hit Pedro’s car as it crossed the International Airport Road and Minnesota Drive, which forced the Dodge Charger into the ditch.
Pedro fled on foot, and a police K-9 unit stopped Pedro from fleeing by biting him in the right forearm.
He’s currently on federal probation for a 2011 conviction for selling crack cocaine and has an outstanding federal probation violation warrant.
His bail was set at $100,000 appearance bond and third party custodian and $25,000 performance bond.
Pedro's family says the reason he was wearing a cast in court today is because of the k-9 that took him down.
"He loves his family, he loves his family, he loves his friends, he's a sweetheart, and I'm confused I don't know what really happened," June Fonoti, Pedro's first cousin, said. "Trying to stay out of trouble, you know he's been working on it, you know no body is perfect."
The name of the police officer who used his firearm will be released after 72 hours according to APD policy involving all police shootings. No one was struck with any bullets in this shooting.
It's the second time this year when Anchorage police fired its weapon following the Feb. 19 deadly shooting near 53rd Avenue and Windflower Street.
Contact Neil Torquiano
Editor's Note: KTUU's Mallory Peebles contributed to this story.