Kendale Johnson, 28, of Shiprock, N.M., was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting an assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
On July 4, 2017, an Arizona DPS Officer, who was cross-commissioned with the Navajo Division of Public Safety, attempted to pull Johnson over for speeding on a stretch of State Route 98 near Kaibeto, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation Reservation. Johnson refused to pull over and instead instigated a high-speed chase that continued for at least 10 miles at speeds of 80-90 miles per hour.
During the chase, Johnson and a passenger in his vehicle threw several rocks back at the pursuing patrol vehicle. Johnson initially escaped, but he was swiftly located and taken into custody. Johnson is a member of the Navajo Nation.