Driver arrested after DPS chase in Phoenix

PHOENIX — A driver was arrested Wednesday after allegedly hitting a law enforcement officer's vehicle in Phoenix and then fleeing on foot.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said an officer tried to stop the driver for speeding at 115 mph on Interstate 17, but the suspect wouldn't stop . The driver then exited the highway and nearly struck a DPS officer.

DPS said the same suspect then struck the vehicle of a sergeant, who was not injured.

The suspect's car eventually stopped and the driver fled the scene. Law enforcement later arrested the suspect after he was found hiding in a resident's backyard.

DPS did not immediately release the identity of the suspect.

“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.

The valley is made up of several major cities other than Phoenix, including:

• Mesa
• Chandler
• Scottsdale
• Temple
• Glendale
• Surprise
• Peoria
• Gilbert
• The Mirage
• Avondale
• Litchfield Park
• Good year
• Buckeye

Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on its location relative to Phoenix.

Valley cities have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country, just behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.

How big is Maricopa County?

Maricopa County is the 4th largest county in the United States by population with 4,485,414 residents, according to the 2020 census.

The county is home to approximately 63% of Arizona's population and spans 9,224 square miles. This makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).

One of the largest park systems in the country is also located in Maricopa County. The county has approximately 120,000 acres of open parks including hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.

The county seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the fifth most populous city in the United States according to the census.

The county is named for the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American tribe.