On June 27 at 1:02 a.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle for moving violations. Darren Sanger, 36, of Soldotna, was found driving on a revoked license. He had been convicted on seven previous occasions and had conditions of release from a pending charge, which include that he is not to drive. He was arrested for driving while license revoked and violating conditions of release and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 27 at 3:44 a.m., Alaska State Troopers observed a vehicle on a bicycle path near Redoubt Avenue in Kenai. After investigation revealed that Casey Rindfuss, 30, of Austin, Texas, was impaired by alcoholic beverages, he was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 26 at 12:13 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a moving violation on the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai and contacted Jason Lee, 43, of Sterling. After investigation, Lee was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial for driving under the influence.
On June 26 at 7:05 p.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a moving violation on Bridge Access Road in Kenai and contacted Curtis Schrader, 71, of Kasilof. After investigation, Schrader was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial for driving under the influence.
On June 26 at about 9:20 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle after receiving a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) complaint. Christopher Rogers, 42, of Soldotna, was found driving on a revoked license. He had been convicted on two previous occasions and had conditions of release from a pending charge, which include that he is not to drive. He was arrested for driving while license revoked and violating conditions of release and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 27 at about 2:00 a.m., Alaska State Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle in Soldotna for moving and equipment violations. The vehicle failed to stop as directed and drove recklessly in an attempt to elude troopers. The vehicle almost struck another person who was standing near the road. The vehicle crashed into a wooded area in Kenai, and the driver, who was determined to be Tyler, Schjoll, 23, of Kenai, fled. Schjoll has a warrant for his arrest and has no driver’s license. After a brief search of the area, Schjoll was not located. A warrant for his arrest has been sought for first-degree failure to stop at the direction of a police officer, reckless driving, and third-degree assault. Schjoll is strongly encouraged to turn himself into authorities. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts, please contact the Alaska State Troopers in Soldotna at (907)262-4453.
On June 26 at about 11:50 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle for moving violations. Rebecca Douthit, 30, of Soldotna, was found driving on a revoked license. She had been convicted on one previous occasion. She also had a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested for driving while license revoked and the warrant and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 28 at 4:42 a.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a blue 2006 Chrysler minivan near Mile 110 of the Sterling Highway for traffic violations and contacted James Lee Taylor, 56, of Kasilof. After investigation revealed his license was currently revoked for felony driving under the influence and that he had multiple prior driving while license revoked convictions, he was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 27 at 7:56 a.m., Alaska State Troopers dispatch received a report of a male passed out-behind the wheel of a vehicle. Troopers responded and observed drug paraphernalia on the driver’s lap. The driver was wakened and failed to comply with troopers before speeding away. Troopers chased the vehicle, ultimately using a PIT maneuver to end the chase in Nikiski. The driver fled on foot, but was apprehended a short distance later. Investigation revealed the truck was stolen from Anchorage, and the license plates were stolen from a separate vehicle. The male provided a fake name, but was later identified as Rex R Rask, 33, of Kenai. Rask was in possession of methamphetamine and heroin and is on conditions of release from a separate case. He failed a field sobriety test, and a warrant was obtained for a sample of his blood. He was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 27 at 7:38 p.m., Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna were notified of a bear attack in Cooper Landing and responded to the scene. Based on a preliminary investigation, an adult male was hiking on the Kenai River Trail with a dog when he encountered a sow brown bear and two cubs. The dog chased the bear, which caused the sow to charge the hiker. The hiker reported that he was bitten on the arm by the bear, and he then entered the Kenai River. The bear followed him into the river and bit him once more on the shoulder. The bear then retreated from the area, and the hiker returned to his vehicle, where he contacted emergency services. Emergency Medical Services transported the hiker to a Kenai Peninsula area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The bear has not been located by law enforcement. The hiker did have bear spray but was unable to deploy it. The hiker’s dog, a 13-month-old border collie, is still missing, if anyone encounters a loose border collie in the area, please call Alaska Wildlife Troopers at (907) 262-4573. The Kenai River Trail near Skilak Lake has been closed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
On June 29 at about 2:50 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a single-vehicle collision with a moose near Mile 111 of the Sterling Highway. Investigation revealed that Samantha Skirko, 30, of Homer, was driving southbound in a black 2015 Dodge SUV when she struck a moose. Neither she nor her passenger reported any injuries. Seat belts were worn. Alcohol was not a factor. The vehicle suffered substantial damage and was disabled. The moose was recovered by a charity.
On June 28 at 4:13 p.m., Alaska State Troopers in Soldotna were notified of a possible plane crash of a Piper J3C-65 26 miles northeast of Kenai in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Department of Public Safety’s HELO3 launched from Anchorage and located the crash site near Rabbit Foot Lake, along with two survivors. HELO3 transported the two occupants, an adult male and a juvenile male, back to Anchorage. Both were uninjured and declined medical assistance. The NTSB was notified of the crash.
On June 24 at 3:56 a.m., Soldotna Police stopped a vehicle near Mile 98.5 of the Sterling Highway for speeding, 94 miles per hour in the posted 55 miles per hour zone. Denali Geddes-Boyd, 18, of California, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 23 at 3:04 a.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on the Sterling Highway near Mount Redoubt Avenue, because the officer knew that Michael Lynch, 30, of Sterling, did not have a license. Lynch was issued a municipal citation for being an unlicensed driver and a criminal citation for not having vehicle insurance. The vehicle was impounded.
On June 18 at 3:55 a.m., Soldotna police responded to the Kenai River Lodge for a disturbance. Investigation led to Patrick W. Cochran, 33, of Anchorage, being arrested for fourth-degree assault and taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail. During the investigation, officers also contacted Chelsea Worrell, 33, of Palmer, and arrested her on an outstanding warrant. She was taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On June 17 at about 6:10 p.m., Soldotna police responded to a parking lot near the Sterling Highway and Riverside Drive for a disturbance. The parties involved left in a vehicle prior to the arrival of officers, but the vehicle was located and stopped on the Sterling Highway, near Warehouse Drive. Katya Selanoff, 21, of Kenai, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and fourth-degree assault and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 12 at 9:03 a.m., Soldotna police received a report that someone had damaged the flower hanging baskets at the Soldotna Visitors Center. Security video footage was reviewed, and Angela Glaves, 45, of Anchorage, was identified as the person who caused the damage. Glaves was contacted at Wildwood Pretrial and issued a criminal citation for fifth-degree criminal mischief. Glaves was also the person involved in damaging property and breaking a window at a business at the Soldotna Airport the same night and was additionally charged with third-degree criminal mischief.
On June 11 at 10:32 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle near the Sterling Highway and Binkley Street, because the officer knew the driver had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Terry Vaught, 55, of Soldotna, was also driving with a revoked license and in violation of his court-ordered conditions of release. Vaught was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On June 29 at 10:58 a.m., 911 Dispatch received a report of a stolen vehicle in Soldotna. Multiple Soldotna Police and Alaska State Troopers responded but were unable to locate the vehicle. At 3:46 p.m., Alaska State Troopers Dispatch received a REDDI ( Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) call about a dangerous driver on Scout Lake Road. Troopers located the vehicle and contacted Elias McConnell, 24, of Soldotna, and Susan Sylvester, 23, of Kenai, Investigation revealed McConnell stole the vehicle and picked up his girlfriend, Sylvester, who knew the vehicle was stolen. McConnell was armed at the time and was also in possession of controlled substances. Both were arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 30 at 12:26 a.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a silver 2004 Nissan pickup for a traffic violation near Mile 111 of the Sterling Highway and contacted the driver, Clarissa Mae Perez, 48, of Anchorage. Investigation revealed she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest for failure to appear for arraignment on the original charge of driving under the influence. She was additionally found to be in violation of her conditions of release for the pending driving under the influence charge by consuming alcohol. She was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on $500 bail.
On June 29 at 2:15 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence off Kobuk Street in Soldotna, where contact was made with Robert Dean Antila, 53, of Soldotna. Investigation revealed Antila had an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear for his jury trial on an original charge of violating a domestic violence protective order. Antila taken to Wildwood Pretrial on $500 bail plus CATP.
On June 29 at about 6:00 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received information that a male with warrants was residing at a residence off Spruce Haven Street in Nikiski. Upon arrival at the residence, contact was eventually made with Tyler Dean Schjoll, 23, of Soldotna. Schjoll was arrested on three outstanding warrants, including a parole warrant for second-degree theft and third-degree misconduct involving weapons (no bail), failure to comply with conditions of probation/parole ($2,500 bail), and first-degree eluding, reckless driving, and third-degree assault ($1,000 bail). Schjoll was taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On June 30 at 10:01 p.m., Soldotna Alaska State Troopers responded to a disturbance call in Sterling and contacted Curtis Larrow, 45, of Soldotna. Investigation revealed Larrow had committed an assault. Subsequent investigation revealed Larrow was also using a license plate for another vehicle on his truck, so he would not get stopped without a license plate on his truck. Larrow was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on charges of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and improper use of evidence of registration.
On June 30 at about 12:00 p.m., Kenai police were called to the Pretrial Enforcement Office for a suspected drug case. After investigation, Amy Helgevold, 45, of Kenai, was arrested for fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and violating conditions of release and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 30 at 11:04 p.m., Kenai police responded to a call near a business in Kenai. Chase A. Longbotham, 20, of Kenai, was issued a summons for fifth-degree misconduct involving a weapon.
On July 1 at about 3:50 p.m., Kenai police responded to report of a probation violation. After investigation, Dakota Mcadoo, 28, of Kenai, was arrested for petition to revoke probation and fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.
On July 1 at 8:45 p.m., Kenai police responded to report of suspected drug activity. After investigation, Daniel L Gentry, 34, of Soldotna, was arrested for a Soldotna Alaska State Troopers arrest warrant on original charges of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and violating conditions of release for felony. In addition, Tiffiney Britton, 33, of Soldotna, was arrested for hindering prosecution.
On July 2 at 12:17 a.m., Alaska State Troopers received a distress beacon from a person walking along the Resurrection Trail near Juneau Lake when he discovered Tammy Christian, 47, of Anchorage, on the trail. Christian said she was having shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and complaining of being cold. Christian was helped to the Swan Lake Cabins on Resurrection Trail, where she was airlifted by Life Med to Providence Medical Center in Anchorage for further medical evaluation.
On July 1 at 11:51 p.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment violation on the Sterling Highway in Soldotna and contacted Gabrielle Browning, 29, of Kasilof. Investigation revealed she intentionally did not stop for troopers, who had their overhead lights and sirens on for about half a mile. After investigation revealed Browning was on conditions of release and had violated her conditions of release by failing to stop at the direction of a peace officer she was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility for second-degree failing to stop at the direction of a peace officer and violating conditions of release.
On July 2 at 8:27 p.m., multiple people began to call 911, reporting that a vehicle traveling from the Cooper Landing area toward Sterling was running people off the road, speeding, passing unsafely, tailgating, and the driver was drinking alcohol. Troopers located the vehicle just north of Sterling and conducted a traffic stop. Investigation revealed that the driver, Yasmine Okpealuk-Paquin, 25, of Anchorage, was impaired by alcoholic beverages. An infant was also found in the vehicle, as were numerous firearms. Okpealuk-Paquin was arrested for driving under the influence, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and fourth-degree misconduct involving weapons. Okpealuk-Paquin’s breath alcohol concentration was over one-and-a-half times the per se limit.
