High speed chase ends at Rock Springs
Staff Report ~ 12/29/2009

A high-speed chase throughout central Phoenix came to a close Dec. 29 at the Rock Springs exit, just south of Black Canyon City when an Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer placed Phoenix resident Ian Jonathon Erekson, 22 of Phoenix under arrest.

Erekson, a motorcyclist, was originally observed by a DPS officer just before 8 a.m. The DPS officer reported the 22-year-old travelling in excess of 80 miles per hour in the HOV lane. The DPS officer attempted to stop the motorcyclist who then fled.

At approximately 8:11 a.m., another DPS officer encountered Erekson on 35th Avenue and Clarendon. Erekson fled from that patrol unit in excess of 80 to 90 miles per hour northbound on 27th avenue to Camelback road where he turned east on Camelback.

At that point a Phoenix Police Helicopter monitors the motorcycle from the air. At Camelback Avenue and I-17, Erekson returned to I-17, heading southbound. Erekson then took the ramp from the southbound I-17 to the westbound I-10 exiting at Buckeye before entering Sky Harbor Airport approaching terminal two. He then was observed making a U-turn and driving in the opposite lane on the eastside of terminal two traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes. Erekson continued through the airport, at one point heading eastbound in the westbound lanes.

During the course of these events, DPS officers attempted to stop Erekson a total of four times.

As Erekson left Sky Harbor heading westbound, a Phoenix Police helicopter, which had received clearance to fly over the airport, continued to monitor the motorcycle from the air. Eventually the motorcyclist got back on the freeway at 16th Street and continued to head northbound on I-17 at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.

At the Rocks Springs exit Erekson apparently ran out of fuel. At that point two motorists, Scott Gilbert and Robert Thoop, a retired DPS officer from Black Canyon City, came up to Erekson and encouraged him to surrender. A few minutes later a DPS officer arrived on scene and placed Erekson under arrest.

Erekson was charged with four counts of felony flight, one count of endangerment, one count of reckless driving and one count of criminal speed.

Erekson has one felony warrant listing three separate charges out of Maricopa County Superior Court: Burglary in the 3rd degree, attempted theft of means of transportation and criminal trespassing in the 1st degree.