A man who reportedly followed an unmarked police vehicle through Kenai streets, confronted officers with a handgun and told police he wanted to “kill law enforcement” was arrested on stalking, assault and weapons charges in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Hugh A. Navarre, 65, was arrested on Redoubt Avenue with a handgun in his waistband shouting for police to shoot him, according to a police affidavit filed with the court.
The showdown was the last of several interactions Navarre allegedly had with the police that night.
Navarre was seen just before midnight passing by an unmarked police car conducting a traffic stop on Kenai Spur Highway, according to police. He allegedly then did a U-turn and passed by the car a second time, before heading away.
Navarre’s car was then spotted at Kenai police headquarters passing by the same officer’s patrol car, according to police. When the officer pursued his vehicle, Navarre allegedly stopped, got out of his car carrying a handgun and began yelling about the officer’s unmarked patrol car.
The officer took cover, and Navarre got back in his vehicle and took off, according to police.
After a police pursuit, Navarre stopped on Redoubt Avenue between Channel Way and McKinley Street and got out of his car holding a handgun, according to the affidavit. Police allege Navarre put the gun into his waistband and shouted that police should shoot him.
Police said Navarre then obeyed commands to get on the ground. He was taken into custody smelling of marijuana with a loaded .45-caliber handgun on him, according to police.
Navarre reportedly later told police that he wanted to kill police because of grievances he had with unrelated government actions and because of interactions he has had with police across the state, but that he had waited to start a gunfight until he was in an area with fewer houses.
He faces charges of third-degree assault, a class C felony; first-degree stalking, a class C felony; first-degree failure to stop as the direction of a peace officer, a class C felony; fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon, a misdemeanor; driving under the influence, a misdemeanor, and two counts of third-degree assault, a class C felony. Navarre is being held without bail.
Reach Erin Thompson at ethompson@peninsulaclarion.com.
