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 June 5 at 12:23 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance in Nikiski. Investigation revealed that Philbert Merculief, 38, of Kenai, was in possession of a small amount of heroin. Troopers also contacted Laife Inkster, 35, of Kenai, who had an outstanding warrant for failure to remand on an original charge of driving while license suspended. Merculief and Inkster were arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility
On June 4 at 3:24 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop for a moving violation near Mile 106 on the Sterling Highway in Kasilof. After investigation revealed that Harley Copenharve, 19, of Soldotna, was impaired by alcoholic beverages, he was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 6, Alaska State Troopers responded to a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) report in Hope. After investigation, Eva Bingham, 23, of Palmer, was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to the Seward Jail.
On June 1 at 6:15 p.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted a female concerning a family member’s belongings. Investigation later revealed that Derek Robert Ludington, 51, of Nikiski, had violated a protective order against him on two occasions, May 28 and May 30, by contacting the female directly and indirectly. Charges were forwarded to the Kenai District Attorney’s Office with a request for an arrest warrant.
On June 1 at 7:12 a.m., an elderly female called Alaska State Troopers in Soldotna for assistance recovering numerous guns and other items from her elderly brother’s residence in Soldotna. The female flew up from out of state and would only be in Soldotna for one-and-a-half days to assist her brother, who was unable to care for himself. Troopers contacted the Soldotna High School head football coach, Galen Brantley III, for community assistance/team volunteers. Brantley III, along with an assistant coach, Jeremy Chezik, both of Soldotna, responded to the residence and personally assisted the female with loading items to a storage unit.
On June 7 at 5:31 a.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a black 2015 Chevrolet pickup near Mile 81 of the Sterling Highway for speeding, driving nearly 100 miles per hour. Monica Burnell, 43, of Anchorage, was identified as the driver. Investigation revealed she was driving the truck while impaired and under the influence of alcohol and that she had two young children in the truck with her. She was arrested for driving under the influence and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and cited for speeding and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 6 at 9:19 a.m., Alaska Wildlife Troopers were patrolling the Kenai River by boat patrol. Joseph McCord, 22, from Tennessee, was fishing for king salmon from a boat. Investigation revealed that McCord did not have his 2021 sportfishing license in his possession while fishing. A $220 bailable citation was filed with the Kenai Court.
On June 6 at about 12:00 p.m., Alaska Wildlife Troopers were patrolling the Kenai River and contacted Douglas Durow, 75, from Nebraska, bank fishing. Investigation revealed that Douglas Durow unlawfully used a treble hook when regulations state single hook only. A $120 bailable citation was filed with the Kenai Court.
On June 6 at about 12:30 p.m., Alaska Wildlife Troopers were patrolling the Kenai River. Blake Holmes, 29, of Anchorage, was fishing from shore at the Centennial Campground. Investigation revealed that Holmes did not purchase his 2021 sportfishing license. A $220 bailable citation was filed with the Kenai Court.
On June 6 at 3:08 a.m., Kenai police responded to a report of a disturbance at a local business. After investigation, Jordan T. Tuttle, 20, of Anchorage, was arrested for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and fifth-degree criminal mischief. Constance R. Millhouse, 27, of Anchorage, was arrested for disorderly conduct. Both were taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 6 at 10:16 p.m., Kenai police conducted a routine traffic stop. After investigation, Casey W. Zearing, 32, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence and violating probation and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On May 28, Kenai police responded to suspicious activity in the parking lot of a local Kenai business. As a result, Taylor W. McCoy, 28, of Nikiski, was arrested on June 5 for fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 5 at 11:53 a.m., Kenai police responded to a disorderly subject at a local Kenai business. Jake L. Sagenites, 30, of Kenai, was arrested on a felony fugitive from justice probation warrant out of Arizona on original charges of assault. Saganitso was taken to Wildwood Pretrial, awaiting extradition back to Arizona.
On June 5 at 1:39 p.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop on the Kenai Spur Highway near Main Street Loop. Travis M. Johnson, 40, of Kenai, was issued a summons for driving while license revoked.
On June 5 at 6:44 p.m., Kenai police responded to a local Kenai business for a subject reported to be violating his probation. Jared J.E. Herrmann, 25, of Kenai, was arrested for violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 4 at about 3:00 a.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop on the Kenai Spur Highway near Main Street Loop. Zackary Moore, 31, of Kenai, was arrested for fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 3 at 10:22 p.m., Kenai police conducted a routine traffic stop. After investigation, Cody L. Little, 20, of Sterling, was issued a summons for sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.
On June 3 at 10:27 p.m., Kenai police responded to a dispute. After investigation, Chandler S. Doucet, 22, of Soldotna, was arrested for second-degree trespass and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 1 at 4:17 p.m., Kenai police contacted a wanted subject. Brandon N. Barfell, 24, of Soldotna, was arrested on a Soldotna Alaska State Troopers warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probations and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 7 at about 9:50 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence off Bonita Street in Soldotna, where contact was made with Ashley Dawn Schrader, 29, of Soldotna. After investigation revealed that Schrader had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on an original charge of driving while license revoked, she was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on $250 bail.
On June 7 at 8:11 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle on East End Road near Buttermilk Avenue in Homer for an equipment violation. The driver was contacted and identified as Simeon Sereberkoff, 18, of Voznesenka. A license check showed Sereberkoff only had an instruction permit and did not have the required licensed driver with him in the vehicle. Sereberkoff was given a summons to appear and released. The vehicle was released to a licensed driver.
On June 2 at 8:13 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle near Mile 143 of the Sterling Highway in Ninilchik for a traffic violation. The driver was contacted and identified as Leah Lekanof, 19 of Anchorage. A license check showed Lekanof only had an instruction permit and did not have the required licensed driver with her. Lekanof was given a summons to appear and released.
On May 31 at 12:13 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle on North Fork Road at Sprucegate Road in Anchor Point for an equipment violation. A license check showed that the 17-year-old female driver, of Anchor Point, only had an instruction permit and did not have the required licensed driver with her. She was given a summons to appear and released.
On May 30 at 10:25 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a motorcycle near Mile 163 of the Sterling Highway for a traffic violation. The driver was contacted and identified as Benjamin Tarbell, 33, of Kasilof. A license check showed Tarbell only had an instruction permit and did not have the required licensed driver with him. Tarbell was given a summons to appear and released.
On June 9 at 3:32 a.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a silver 2004 Nissan pickup near Mile 78.5 of the Sterling Highway for multiple traffic violations. After investigation, Clarissa Mae Perez, 48, of Anchorage, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 5 at about 1:40 p.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Derek Ludington, 51, of Nikiski, and arrested him on a warrant for violating a domestic violence protective order. Investigation had revealed that Ludington failed to update his current residential address after he moved about 20 days prior, and that he’s required to register as a sex offender. Ludington was arrested on the warrant and charged with the additional crime of failure to register as a sex offender and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility, pending arraignment.
On June 9, Alaska State Troopers performed a traffic stop in Sterling. After investigation, Joshua McDonnell, 38, of Sterling, was arrested for driving while license revoked, failing to maintain insurance, and violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 8 at 7:19 a.m., Soldotna police contacted Billy J. Robinson, 41, of Kenai, and found that he had been consuming alcohol in violation of his court-ordered conditions of release. Robinson was arrested for the violation and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.
On June 4 at 10:41 p.m., Soldotna police contacted Kari A. Curry, 32, of Soldotna, about a possible violation of court-ordered conditions of release. After investigation, Curry was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On June 3 at 5:04 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on the Sterling Highway near Riverside Drive after a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) report was received. Leah Tufares, 39, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On June 9 at 7:52 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle near Mile 148 of the Sterling Highway for equipment violations. After investigation, Martha Christiansen, 36, of Homer, was given a summons to appear for driving while license revoked and released.
On June 9, Alliresa Soltani, 57, of California, was contacted by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers while he was fishing with bait on the lower Kenai River. The lower Kenai River is closed to using bait while fishing during this time of the season. Soltani was issued a citation with a bail amount of $120 into the Kenai District Court.
On May 14, a Soldotna citizen found a prosthetic leg washed up on the riverbank of the Kenai River near the Soldotna airport and delivered the leg to Soldotna Alaska State Troopers (AST). AST was able to contact the manufacturer and identify the involved Alaska medical clinic, who in turn contacted the owner of the prosthetic leg and delivered him a message that it had been found. The owner contacted AST, reporting he’d lost the prosthetic leg during a boating accident, and he’s making arrangements to get his property back.
On June 10 at 12:44 p.m., Kenai police responded to a report of a verbal disturbance. After investigation, Brandon J Saltenberger, 21, of Soldotna, was arrested for fourth-degree criminal mischief (domestic violence) and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On June 10 at 1:40 p.m., Kenai police responded to report of individuals playing with a large rifle. After investigation, Chase Longbotham, 20, of Kenai and Benjamin Easley, 20, of Kenai, were each issued a summons for fifth-degree misconduct involving weapons.
On June 9 at 10:38 p.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop on the Kenai Spur Highway near Main Street. Christian T. Athey, 24, of Nikiski, was arrested on an Alaska State Troopers $5000 warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probation on original charges of first-degree vehicle theft and first-degree promoting contraband and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
