Psychiatric testing set for teen charged in SUV theft
A teenager arrested Sunday evening on charges stemming from a vehicle theft and high-speed chase Friday night was ordered Monday to undergo a psychiatric evaluation in Anchorage.
Bobby J. Boorman, 19, appeared before Juneau District Court Judge Peter B. Froehlich on felony charges of first-degree vehicle theft, third-degree assault and failure to stop at the direction of an officer. He also is accused of two misdemeanor charges, reckless driving and driving without a license.
Police located and arrested him shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the Mendenhall Valley.
The assault charge alleges Boorman drove a stolen sport-utility vehicle into police Officer Steve Christensen's vehicle at the ferry terminal parking lot after fleeing a U.S. Forest Service officer at speeds exceeding 100 mph, and before abandoning the vehicle at Stabler's Point gravel pit.
Because the charges include felonies, Boorman was not asked to enter a plea in District Court. He will be arraigned in Superior Court if probable cause is found to exist for the charges at a preliminary hearing Oct. 14 or if he is indicted by a grand jury.
Froehlich appointed the public defender's office to represent Boorman, who said he has no income or money saved. The judge set bail at $25,000 and ordered Boorman to be taken to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute for an evaluation.
Boorman told the judge he didn't want to go.
Froehlich said that after Boorman returns from Anchorage, he could post bail, but would need to have the court approve someone to be responsible for him before he could be released.
Police said a Ford Explorer left running in the DIPAC hatchery parking lot on Channel Drive was reported stolen at about 8:30 p.m. Friday. A little more than an hour later, U.S. Forest Service Officer Mike Mills located the stolen vehicle being driven inbound on Glacier Highway near Eagle Beach, without its headlights on.
Mills reportedly attempted to stop the vehicle, but gave up the pursuit because of unsafe speeds.
• Tony Carroll can be reached at tony.carroll@juneauempire.com.