INFORMATION RELEASE

On November 12, 2016, at about 11:37 in the morning, the Juneau Police Department received a call that a woman was hanging out the window of a moving car and screaming on Hospital Drive. The vehicle stopped and a man threw the woman out of the car and was fighting with her. The caller then said the vehicle drove 50 miles per hour backwards up the hill toward the hospital. The woman was later identified as the driver?s mother, who was trying to get him to accept medical help. The driver was later identified as 23 year old Cecil Trent Yeisley of Juneau.

A JPD officer responding to the report from the hospital saw the vehicle driving toward the valley on Egan Drive going about 90 miles per hour. The officer did not pursue the vehicle due to potential danger to the driving public. JPD then received a report that Yeisley had aggressively driven at a marked Capital City Fire and Rescue vehicle near Fritz Cove Road. The fire department employee driving took evasive action and was not struck.

A JPD officer was driving out the road to attempt to find the vehicle and Yeisley. Yeisley, who was then going inbound on Glacier Highway, drove aggressively at the JPD patrol vehicle, forcing the officer to take evasive action. The on-duty JPD Sergeant was at the McNugget intersection in the turn lane preparing to meet with the officer who just took evasive action so they could go to Yeisley's home to try and contact him. While at that intersection Yeisley rear-ended the Sergeant?s marked patrol car and struck a civilian vehicle immediately afterwards.

The Sergeant began pursuing the vehicle. Another JPD officer was driving on Egan Drive, going toward the valley, near Vanderbilt Hill Road. That officer knew the pursuit was coming toward him so he was trying to slow down traffic and give notice of a hazard. Yeisely crossed the median in an attempt to strike that patrol car, but the JPD officer sped up and avoided the collision.

Yeisley began driving on the wrong side of Egan Drive at about Vanderbilt Hill Road, traveling toward downtown, then returned to the correct side of the road. A JPD officer was on foot in the median of Egan Drive preparing to use a device called ?Stop Sticks?, which deflate tires when someone drives over them. Yeisley drove into the median in an attempt to strike that officer, who was able to get out of the way.

Yeisley led the pursuit back to the hospital area. He got out of the car and fled into the SEARHC Ethel Lund Medical Center. A JPD officer followed him into the building and when threatened with a Taser, Yeisley gave up and was taken into custody.

JPD investigators are concerned that Yeisley may have struck or nearly struck other motorists during this incident. The vehicle involved is 2010 Dodge SUV and JPD is releasing a picture. JPD would also like to speak to witnesses who saw the rear-ending of the patrol vehicle at McNugget intersection. If you are a witness or victim please call 586-0600. A picture of the vehicle is posted on the JPD Facebook page.

23 year old Cecil Trent Yeisley was arrested for two counts of assault in the 2nd degree, a class B Felony, two counts of assault in the 3rd degree, a class C Felony, and one count of Failure to Stop at the Direction of a Peace Officer, a class C Felony.

All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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