Palmer man accused of DUI after forcing officer off Parks Highway

Alaska State Troopers arrested a Palmer man on a DUI charge Tuesday night after his vehicle forced a Wasilla police officer off the Parks Highway near Palmer, troopers said.

The officer was transporting an arrestee around 9:25 p.m. when Joshua Piltz veered into his lane and pushed him onto the shoulder, according to troopers. The officer reported it, and a traffic stop followed.

Piltz admitted to drinking a full bottle of wine plus additional glasses at a second establishment, and to texting while driving, troopers said, and told them he was too impaired to drive safely. A breath sample registered 0.109, above the 0.08 legal limit. He was booked into Mat-Su Pretrial Facility on a class A misdemeanor DUI charge and posted $250 bail the next day.

The charge is an accusation, and Piltz is presumed innocent until proven guilty.