Press Release

Aaron Sullivan Convicted of Attempted Murder on Police Officer

March 10, 2016

On March 10, 2016, following a three week trial, an Anchorage jury found 28 year old Aaron Sullivan guilty of attempted murder in the first degree of an Anchorage Police Department officer. Sullivan was also convicted of other charges, including felony misconduct involving weapons.

In September 2014, Sullivan evaded the officer to avoid arrest. The officer was able to note Sullivan’s license plate, and discovered that he was on parole supervision for a prior felony assault and weapons misconduct conviction. When Sullivan failed to appear for a probation meeting in late September 2014, his supervising officer obtained a parole warrant for his arrest.

On October 6, 2014, the same officer, on late-night patrol in Mountain View, spotted Sullivan, and again tried to stop his car. Sullivan turned off his headlights, and sped away through Mountain View streets and alleys. The officer finally stopped Sullivan by using the car to pin Sullivan’s car against a street sign.

As the officer got out of his police car, Sullivan responded by firing three shots at the officer from his .44 magnum revolver. The officer returned fire, but Sullivan was able to get away. Other officers located Sullivan’s abandoned car within a half hour. They found Sullivan’s revolver, and syringes in the car. Sullivan was spotted in Fairview the next morning and arrested.

In a post-arrest interview, Sullivan admitted that he fired the shots at the officer because he had been on a days-long heroin and methamphetamine binge, and he did not want to go back to jail. Sullivan now faces a sentence of up to 99 years in prison.

Anchorage District Attorney Clint Campion said, “This case illustrates the extreme bravery and courage shown every day by law enforcement officers across the State. They put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis to protect citizens against dangerous offenders.”

Sullivan is being held without bail, pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for July 1, 2016 before Judge Michael Wolverton. The trial prosecutor was Assistant District Attorney James Fayette.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney James Fayette @ (907) 269-6300 at the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.