Early Sunday morning, a man was taken into custody after driving the wrong way on a freeway in Mesa, resulting in a closure of eastbound Loop 202. According to ABC15, the situation began with a welfare check around 4:30 a.m. when the man, now facing felony charges including aggravated DUI, was yelling for help in a parking lot near Power Road and McDowell.
The Mesa Police Department was responding to the call when they found the man exhibiting erratic behavior and signs of being under the influence. In an unexpected turn, as officers approached, the man entered his vehicle, starting to drive in the opposing flow of traffic on Power Road. This wrong-way incident led to a tactical response from law enforcement on the busy freeway. AZFamily reported that the man was driving with no headlights on, escalating the danger of the situation.
The pursuit ended when officers successfully performed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver on Loop 202 near McKellips Road. This operation brought the vehicle to a halt and allowed officers to safely detain the driver. The maneuver and subsequent arrest were a joint effort between the Mesa Police and the Department of Public Safety troopers, showcasing coordinated action to resolve what could have been an even more dangerous event…