Police reports for the week of April 4, 2021

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Alaska State Troopers logo.

Alaska State Troopers logo.

Information for this report was taken from publicly available law enforcement records and contains arrest and citation information. Anyone listed in this report is presumed innocent.

On Mar. 27 at 11:25 p.m., Alaska State Troopers performed a traffic stop on a black 2015 Kia Sportage on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna for moving violations. After investigation, Keegan Dubendorf, 22, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Mar. 28 at 1:35 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop for moving and equipment violations in Soldotna. After investigation, Charles Scott, 30, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Mar. 27 at 6:54 p.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop for moving violations in Sterling. After investigation revealed that William Strain, 42, of Soldotna, was operating the vehicle while his license was revoked and that he has been previously convicted 18 times for the same offense, he was arrested for driving while license revoked and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Mar. 29 at 12:31 a.m., Alaska State Troopers received a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) report regarding a black Ford truck near Wildwood Drive in Kenai. Troopers located and stopped the vehicle for an equipment violation near the Kenai Spur Highway and North Forest Lane. After investigation, Lisa Weilbacher, 55, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a breath test, and violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail, pending arraignment.

On Mar. 28 at 6:57 p.m., Alaska State Troopers attempted stopping a silver 2003 Ford car near Mile 65 of the Sterling Highway for speeding, in excess of 100 miles per hour. It failed to yield, passing several vehicles recklessly and at high speeds. After about seven miles, the vehicle stopped. The driver, Roy Glenn Collins, 47, of Kenai, was arrested for first-degree failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, reckless driving, and driving while license revoked and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail, pending arraignment.

On Mar. 27 at 11:28 p.m., Kenai police performed a routine traffic stop on the Kenai Spur Highway near Rogers Road. After investigation, John M. Spiers, 35, of Seward, was arrested for driving while license suspended/revoked and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Mar. 26 at 4:26 p.m., Kenai police performed a routine traffic stop near Mile 7 of the Kenai Spur Highway. After investigation, Sandra M. Andersen, 61, of Kenai, was issued a summons for driving while license suspended/revoked.

On Mar. 29, Alaska State Troopers received a report of a burglary in progress. Troopers responded and located Merissa Osmar, 26, of Kenai, inside the residence. She was arrested for first-degree burglary, fourth-degree theft, and third-degree criminal mischief and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Mar. 29 at 7:59 p.m., a 23-year-old female, of Soldotna, flagged down an Alaska State Trooper near Mile 142 of the Sterling Highway to report an incident that had just occurred. Investigation showed that the female and Shane Corbell, 27, of Homer, had been in an altercation while driving in a vehicle, and the female fled on foot from the vehicle after it stopped at a pullout. Corbell was later contacted by the Homer Police Department and arrested for fourth-degree assault, third-degree theft, driving while license revoked, and violating conditions of release and was taken to the Homer Jail, pending arraignment.

On Mar. 29 at 1:56 p.m., Soldotna Alaska State Troopers received a report that an emergency signal and message had been activated by a Garmin inReach device in Turnagain Pass. Troopers determined that Peter Smith, 65, of Anchorage, had become injured in the area of Eddie’s Peak and was unable to leave the mountain. A helicopter from LifeMed attempted to reach Smith, but a viable landing zone could not be located, due to the terrain. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center was contacted and deployed a rescue team that was able to successfully reach Smith and transport him to an Anchorage area hospital for medical treatment. He remains in good condition.

On Mar. 30, Alaska State Troopers contacted Michael Jaqua, 34, of Kenai, in a red Ford F350 at Mile 21 of the Kenai Spur Highway for violating a domestic violence protection order. The passenger provided false information and was later identified as Miranda Martinez, 34, of Kenai, who had a warrant out for her arrest for second-degree misconduct involving controlled substances. Jaqua was arrested for violating a protection order, and Martinez was arrested for providing false information to a peace officer and on her warrant. Both were taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Mar. 30 at 9:21 p.m., the Soldotna Alaska State Troopers K-9 Team contacted the driver of a vehicle found to be passed-out and slumped over the steering wheel near Kalifornsky Beach Road and Poppy Lane. Matthew D. Luke, 23, of Kenai, was arrested for driving under the influence of controlled substances. A search warrant service was conducted on the maroon 2000 GMC truck after a K-9 drug indication on the vehicle. The vehicle search resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine, heroin, alprazolam, and suboxone. After a legal blood draw was performed at Central Peninsula Hospital, Luke attempted to escape custody and proceeded to run away on foot. He was apprehended with the assistance of K-9 Donna, Central Peninsula Hospital Security, and the Soldotna Police Department and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on charges of driving under the influence of drugs, four counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving controlled substances, second-degree escape, and violating conditions of release. Luke is on conditions of release on the original charges of driving under the influence of drugs and fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and also on a separate violating conditions of release charge along with separate cases of false report, fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, and a separate violating conditions of release charge. Luke’s conditions of release state he is to obey all laws and not to consume or possess illegal drugs. Luke has a prior fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance conviction on Sept. 25, 2019.

On Mar. 31 at 3:11 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a report a domestic violence protective order violation in Nikiski. After investigation, Michael Jaqua, 34, of Nikiski, was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Mar. 31 at 9:15 p.m., Soldotna police were at the Angler’s Inn, conducting follow-up investigation, and made contact with Jesse L. Doetsch, 36, of Soldotna. Officers knew Doetsch had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and attempted to make the arrest. Doetsch resisted arrest and was taken into custody after a Taser deployment. Doetsch, who was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine, was arrested on the warrant and also charged with resisting arrest, fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, and violating his court-ordered conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Mar. 30 at 11:36 a.m., Soldotna police received a report that a 2001 GMC pickup and other items had been stolen from the Angler’s Inn. At about 2:35 p.m., an Alaska State Trooper discovered the stolen pickup at a residence on Cinderella Street in Kenai. With the assistance of Alaska State Troopers and Kenai police, the vehicle and other stolen items were recovered. Sheena Cundiff, 38, of Anchor Point, and Arik Smith, 25, of Anchor Point, were arrested for first-degree vehicle theft and tampering with physical evidence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Mar. 28 at 11:16 p.m., Soldotna police responded to the Maverick Saloon for an intoxicated male causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the premises. Troy Weilbacher, 52, of Soldotna, was arrested for second-degree criminal trespass and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Mar. 14 at about 11:30 p.m., Soldotna police responded to a residence on Marydale Avenue for a disturbance. Investigation led to Kenneth Russell, 37, of Soldotna, being issued a criminal citation for fourth-degree assault and released.

On Mar. 10 at 11:41 a.m., Soldotna police received a report of a protective order violation that occurred at the Kenai Peninsula Borough building. At about 10:50 p.m., David O’Brien, 40, of Nikiski, was contacted by Kenai police and arrested for the violation and a conditions of release violation and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Apr. 1 at 1:44 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report about a male at 38875 Leilani Street in Sterling who had broken into a rental cabin on the property. Troopers responded and identified the male as Keith Baron, 54, of Sterling. After investigation revealed Baron had broken into a cabin on the property and damaged items inside the cabin, he was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility for first-degree criminal trespass and fifth-degree criminal mischief.

On Apr. 1 at 3:06 p.m., Alaska State Troopers arrested Rachael Baugh, 26, of Bethel, for a failure to appear for driving under the influence warrant with a $250 bail. Baugh was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Apr. 1 at 9:26 p.m., Alaska State Troopers observed a pickup parked on the Escape Route with expired registration and conducted a traffic stop on the pickup. Investigation found that driver Lucas Lester, 28, of Kenai, had conditions of release and had violated his conditions by possession of marijuana. He was arrested for violating conditions of release and no motor vehicle insurance and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Apr. 2 at 12:43 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle on Redoubt Avenue in Kenai and contacted Joseph Grant, 26, of Kenai. After investigation, Grant was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Apr. 2 at 4:02 p.m., the Soldotna Alaska State Troopers K-9 Team conducted a traffic stop on the Sterling Highway and Funny River Road on a silver 2006 Chevrolet Impala. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Kelli L. Acton, 30, of Sterling. Investigation revealed she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest for the original charge of violating conditions of release, originating from misconduct involving controlled substances charges, that the Pretrial Enforcement Division requires her to obey all laws and not to possess or consume controlled substances, including marijuana, and that her operator’s license is suspended for an unsatisfied judgement. K-9 Donna indicated on the vehicle for the presence of the odor of controlled substances, and heroin and marijuana were located in the vehicle. Probations was contacted, and Acton was arrested for the outstanding warrant, driving while license suspended, fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, and violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility, processed, and remanded without bail.

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