Man arrested for stealing taxicab

A Napakiak man was arrested for stealing a taxicab and driving it on the river, said the Bethel Police Department. On 02/19/2017, at approximately 1357 hours, the Bethel Police Department received a report of a taxicab that was stolen from the 600 block of Ptarmigan Street. The taxicab was reported to be traveling towards the Joe Lomack Building and onto the ice road, heading downriver towards Napaskiak.

Officers responded to the area and entered the ice road from Standard Oil Road. Officers contacted the stolen taxicab on the river and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the stolen taxicab refused to stop and drove the taxicab off of the ice road at the entrance to Napaskiak. Officers followed for approximately 2 miles downriver of Napaskiak until the taxicab became stuck in snowdrifts and overflow ice. The driver exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but was caught by officers a short time later.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Terrence Motgin, 27 years of age (DOB 09/05/1989), of Napakiak. Mr. Motgin was arrested and transported back to Bethel where he was charged with Vehicle Theft, Failure to Stop at the Direction of a Police Officer, Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest, Driving While License is Revoked, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree and having an Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in a Motor Vehicle. Alcohol is a factor in this case.