Man arrested after running from police

Just after noon Thursday, a Sedona Police officer radioed the Sheriff's Office that he was chasing a car north on SR 89A. The officer had attempted to stop the vehicle, since it looked like the description of a vehicle seen driving away from a theft in Sedona. The vehicle failed to stop for the officers who had turned on their emergency lights.  The Sedona officer then backed away from the pursuit when the car left the city limits and entered into Oak Creek Canyon.

The vehicle description and reason for the pursuit was given to Coconino County Sheriff's deputies who positioned themselves along SR 89A between Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff attempting to locate the vehicle. Just after 1 a.m., deputies spotted the car traveling north at the top of the Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks. The Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, and again, the driver refused to pull over.  A deputy placed tire deflation "stop sticks" in the highway near the Old Munds Highway, south of the Flagstaff city limits. The vehicle struck the "stop sticks" devices deflating three of the four tires. Eventually, the vehicle stopped on JW Powell Boulevard and I-17. But, the suspect, bailed out of the disabled car and fled on foot towards the Interstate. Deputies also chased the man on foot.  Then DPS officers spotted the suspect walking along I-17 near JW Powell Boulevard and arrested him without further incident.

Coconino Sheriff's deputies arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Wayne Gunter of Prescott Valley for aggravated DUI, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property after he fled from pursuing deputies and Sedona Police.  Sedona officers intend to charge him with theft, unlawful flight from law enforcement, and endangerment all of which are crimes that occurred in their jurisdiction.

 Flagstaff Police Officers assisted with this arrest.