A Nome man faces multiple felony charges, police said, after he struck an officer with his car while fleeing a traffic stop. He was arrested when he ditched the vehicle and attempted to flee again on foot, police said.
Around 2:30 a.m. Thursday Nome police stopped a car near Third Avenue and Steadman Street. In an affidavit filed with the Nome court, officers said they stopped the car for "failing to signal during a right turn" and for "a lack of brake lights."
The driver was 34-year-old Scott Aningayou, but when officers asked him to get out of the car, police say, he slammed the car in reverse, accelerated "aggressively" and hit one police officer in the hip with the vehicle before speeding away. Police gave chase, following Aningayou as he sped through two stop signs and turned off the car's headlights to evade officers on Seppala Drive, police said.
Aningayou stopped the car on West D Street before trying to run, police reported, and continued to fight while he was taken into custody.
Court documents claim Aningayou possessed marijuana at the time of his arrest, a drug offense elevated to a felony because of his proximity to the Nome Community Center, which houses the Boys and Girls Club.
In court Thursday, he faced another felony assault charge for allegedly hitting the officer with his car and a third felony charge for reckless driving.
He also faces misdemeanors for DUI, resisting arrest, driving with a revoked license, and reckless endangerment for having three passengers in the car during the chase.
Nome District Attorney John Earthmen cited Aningayou's record, which includes past drug and assault convictions, in calling for a steep bail, which was set at $10,000.
Further restrictions on his bail will be set at his court appearance next week.