Alaska State Troopers Press Release of Friday, March 16, 2012 Any charges reported in these press releases are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A Detachment -------------------------------------------- Location: Juneau Incident number: AK12201156 Type: SAR Text: On 3/16/12, at approximately 1502 hours, the Juneau Police Department contacted the Juneau Alaska State Troopers to report that they had received a telephone call from 28YO Kyle Thompson of Juneau, stating that he was injured on the Mendenhall Ice-field in the area of Suicide Basin. Troopers were able to contact Thompson via cell phone and determine his exact location, and that he required assistance. With the assistance of Temsco Helicopters, Troopers responded and transported Thompson and one other person, 23YO Lee McDonald-Pownall of Juneau, off of the ice-field. Thompson stated he had been skiing across the ice-field when his ski went into a crevasse and caused his ankle to roll, rendering him unable to walk. Thompson was later transported to the Bartlett Regional Hospital in a personal vehicle. Author: JTA0 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 4:16 PM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 4:59 PM B Detachment ------------------------------------------------- Location: Wasilla Case number: 12-23177 Type: Avoidance of an Ignition Interlock Device Text: On 3/16/2012 at approximately 1045 hours, Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a maroon, 1991 Ford Explorer for an equipment violation on Vine Road near the intersection of Phenix Road in Wasilla. Investigation revealed the driver, Devin Blawat, age 26, of Wasilla was operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device as required on his license. Blawat was issued a criminal citation and released from the scene. Author: JSH1 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 6:16 PM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 6:16 PM C Detachment ----------------------------------------- Location: Nondalton Case Number: 12-23218 Type: Murder II/tampering with evidence Text: At 3/15/2012 at approximately 1600, Alaska State Troopers in Dillingham received a call reporting a stabbing in Nondalton. The victim, Alex Olympic, 68, of Nondalton, was declared deceased at the medical clinic in Nondalton. Four troopers responded from Dillingham and King Salmon and a Village Public Safety Officer responded from Newhalen. Upon their arrival in Nondalton at approximately 1830, troopers learned that the suspect had fled on foot. The villagers supplied the troopers with snowmachines. Four troopers, assisted by several villagers on snowmachines, were able to catch up with the suspect on the trail a few miles north of Nondalton. At that time, an adult male and a juvenile male were taken into custody for investigative purposes. After an investigation, the juvenile was charged with Murder II and tampering with physical evidence in the stabbing death of Olympic. Olympic's body is being sent to the SME's office for an autopsy. Next of kin have been notified. The adult was not charged and was released afterward. Troopers would like thank the villagers of Nondalton for their assistance. Author: DRB0/TPT0 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 4:16 PM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 4:07 PM D Detachment ------------------------------------------------- Location: Fairbanks Case number: 12-22835 Type: MVC-I Text: On 03/14/2012 at approximately 2336 hours, Alaska State Troopers responded to 56.5 Chena Hot Springs Road for a two vehicle crash with injuries. Investigation revealed one of the drivers who was identified as 22 y/o John Quiliza of Fairbanks collided his vehicle with a taxi driven by 60 y/o Herman Conley of Fairbanks. Multiple individuals were transported to FMH for their injuries. One passenger was transported to FMH and then flown to Providence Hospital in Anchorage due to the extent of their injuries. Investigation is ongoing in this case. Author: RPL1 -------------------------------------------------- Received Friday, March 16, 2012 8:16 AM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 8:42 AM E Detachment...No news reported. AK Wildlife Troopers ------------------------------------------------- Location: Yakutat Case number: 12-16703 Type: Take lingcod in closed waters Text: On 03/08/12, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Yakutat issued a summons to Marvin Gjerde, age 63 of Snohomish WA, for taking and retaining lingcod in the closed waters of the Gulf of Alaska near Yakutat on 08/26/11 aboard the F/V Tordenskjold. Gjerde is due to be arraigned in Yakutat District Court on 04/12/12 at 10AM. Author: TDA0 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 8:16 AM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 8:50 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Yakutat Bay Case number: 12-22488 Type: Sportfish without a license Text: On 03/10/12 at approximately 0854 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Jeff Swartling, age 36 of Yakutat, while he was digging clams in Yakutat Bay. Investigation revealed that Swartling did not have a valid 2012 AK sportfish license. He was issued a citation with bail set at $210 in Yakutat District Court. Author: TDA0 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 9:16 AM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 8:58 AM ---------------------------------- Location: Hoonah Case Number: 10-104503 Type: False statements of sport fishing licenses Text: On 3/5/12, two residents from Vancouver, WA, 73yo Gordon Peck, and 65yo Helen J. Peck were cited by Hoonah AWT Troopers for unlawfully obtaining resident sport fish licenses from 2007-2011. The Pecks had claimed to live in Gustavus from 2000-2011. Subsequent investigation revealed that they only spent a few of the summer months in their Alaska house before moving into their houses in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. Neither of the Peck's had ever spent 12 consecutive months in Alaska to establish any type of permanent domocile here, which is required for Alaska residency under the Fish and Game residency statutes. AMS9 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 11:16 AM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 11:33 AM AK Bureau of Investigation ----------------------------------------------------- Location: Wasilla Case number: 12-20904 Type: Homicide *UPDATE* Text: Continuing investigation into this case resulted in Andrew Johnson, age 38, being arrested on 3/15/12, at approximately 1638 hours. He was charged with Murder II, and Burglary. Andrew Johnson was remanded at Mat-Su Pre-Trial with bail set at $100,000 cash and a court approved third party. On 3/15/12, a Palmer Grand Jury also indicted Spencer Johnson on charges of Murder I, Murder II x2, Manslaughter, Criminally Negligent Homicide, and two counts of Burglary I. Spencer Johnson is still in custody at Mat-Su Pre-Trial. Text: After the Alaska State Troopers evaluated the information obtained in the investigation and assessed the circumstances of Michael Plummer's death with the Palmer District Attorney, an arrest warrant was sought and obtained from the Palmer Court, for the charge of Murder in the First Degree for the arrest of Spencer D. Johnson, age 19, of Wasilla, specifying a bail amount of $100,000. At about 1500 hours on 03/09/12, following extensive efforts undertaken by law enforcement to locate Johnson in Anchorage, he turned himself in to the authorities at the Anchorage Federal Courthouse. *Original Release* Text: On 3-7-12 at approximately 2224 hours, AST received a call reporting an altercation at a Knik-area residence near mile 15 of Knik-Goose Bay road. The caller stated that one person was likely deceased. Troopers responded to the scene. Investigation revealed that three male subjects had went to the residence and an altercation ensued. According to interviews with witnesses and involved parties, the altercation stemmed from a domestic dispute over the possession of a vehicle. During the physical altercation 43 year old Michael R. Plummer, of Wasilla, received an apparent stab wound and succumbed to his injury. Additionally, gunfire was exchanged from within the residence. Information indicated persons involved in the altercation departed in two different vehicles. The caller stated to AST that shots were fired at the vehicles as they departed, but the caller didn't know if the shots fired resulted in any damages or injuries. Responding Troopers located one of the vehicles on the side of the road at about mile 14 of Knik-Goose Bay road. It was unoccupied and inoperable due to a damaged tire. Tracks leading from the vehicle to the woods were located and a K-9 handler from Wasilla Police Department responded to the scene to assist with tracking. No persons were located, but there were indications that a second vehicle had stopped at the location before continuing on toward Wasilla. Investigators with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation Mat-Su Unit were contacted to assist and ultimately assume case responsibility. Shortly after the altercation, a report was received that a male with a gunshot wound was at the emergency room of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. This subject was contacted by troopers and was identified as one of the individuals involved in the incident. The extent of their injuries are not presently available. The State Medical Examiner responded to the scene to take possession of Plummer's body. An autopsy will be conducted. Plummer's next of kin has been notified. Investigation is continuing. It is believed that all parties associated with this incident have subsequently been contacted or identified. Received Friday, March 16, 2012 10:16 AM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 10:30 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: North Pole Case number: 12-23127 Type: Death Investigation Text: On 3-16-12 at approximately 0757 hours, Alaska State Troopers from the Fairbanks patrol unit received a report of human body being found after an area of industrial property had been cleared of snow. Members of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation responded to the location to recover the remains of an apparent adult male. Although tentative identification of the remains have been made, AST is awaiting confirmation from additional efforts to be undertaken at the State Medical Examiner's Office before publicly naming the person found. Additional details are not being released at this time, as the investigation is on-going. Author: JVR0 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 5:16 PM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 5:40 PM Location: Brevig Mission Case Number: 12-23332 Type: Alcohol Importation Text: On 3/15/12 at about 1300 hours, the Brevig Mission VPSO notified Nome WAANT and Nome AST that an adult male reported that an adult female had just imported alcohol on 3/14/12 at about 2200 hours from Nome, AK by snow machine. The VPSO seized 5-750ml bottles of alcohol from her residence. On 3/16/12 Nome AST and Nome WAANT responded to the village. Investigation revealed that the adult male complainant and the adult female rode together to Nome on their snow machine and bought the bottles together and returned to Brevig Mission. No arrests were made and the 2011 Polaris snow machine was seized as evidence. Charges will be forwarded to OSPA. Brevig Mission is a local option community that voted to ban the sale, importation and possession of alcohol. Author: JWS0 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 6:16 PM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 6:25 PM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Fairbanks Case number: 12-23150 Type: Sexual Abuse of a Minor 1st degree X 5, Sexual Abuse of Minor 2nd degree Text: On 3/16/12, the AST Child Abuse Investigations Unit in Fairbanks received a report that Daniel Weir, 37, of Fairbanks, had sexually abused two girls repeatedly since 2007. After an investigation Weir was arrested and taken to FCC, where he is being held without bail. He is being charged with five counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. Received Friday, March 16, 2012 11:16 PM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 11:08 PM Headquarters...No news reported. AK Bureau of Highway Patrol ------------------------------------------------- Location: Wasilla Case number: AK12201124 Type: Minor Possess Alcohol Text: On 3/16/12, at 0050 hours, the Alaska State Troopers Bureau of Highway Patrol, South Central Team stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Parks Highway and Crusey Road for an equipment violation. An investigation showed that the driver, a 17 year old male resident of Palmer, was in possession of alcohol. The male was given a citation to appear in court and released. Author: DJC09 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 5:16 AM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 5:31 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Wasilla Case number: 12-23117 Type: DUI, DWLS Text: On 3/16/12 at approximately 0410 hours, Officers of the South Central team of the Alaska State Troopers Bureau of Highway Patrol, stopped a 1996 Saturn SL on the Parks Highway near Deskas Drive for speeding. Officers contacted the driver who was identified as TAMARA ROBERTSON, age 34 of Wasilla. ROBERTSON was arrested for DUI and DWLS and remanded to the Mat-Su Pretrial facility on $500 bail. author: PPCS0 Received Friday, March 16, 2012 5:16 AM and posted Friday, March 16, 2012 5:27 AM AK Bureau of Judicial Services...No news reported. AK Div of Fire and Life Safety...No news reported. End of Dispatch