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 July 4 at 1:15 a.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report of a domestic assault that had occurred in Soldotna. The caller also made a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) complaint, that Trina Hall, 53, of Soldotna, was driving drunk. Troopers contacted Hall at a residence in Soldotna, and investigation revealed she had been driving while impaired by alcohol. She was arrested for disorderly conduct and driving under the influence. Investigation on scene also revealed that James Smagge, 55, of Soldotna, had assaulted a family member. He was arrested for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence). Both Hall and Smagge were taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On July 5 at 1:09 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop for a moving violation on Johnson Lake Road and contacted Gregory Koontz, 18, of Soldotna, after he crawled through the driver’s side window. After investigation revealed Koontz had been driving under the influence, he was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On July 4 at about 6:20 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a black 2012 Chevrolet car on North Cohoe Loop for speeding and contacted Corey Kettering, 34, of Eagle River. Investigation revealed he was in possession of eight sockeye salmon caught during the personal use dipnet fishery and that he had failed to record any of his catch on his permit prior to leaving the fishing site. He was issued a minor offense citation for failure to record catch.
On July 4 at about 6:30 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a disturbance at the south Kasilof Beach. It had been reported that an intoxicated individual was attempting to fight with people. Tommy Raymond, Sr., 55, of Anchorage, was contacted. Investigation revealed that after the disturbance, he was driving a white 2006 GMC Envoy while impaired and under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial and later released to a sober third party.
On July 4 at 4:42 p.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Rodney E. White, 49, of Clam Gulch, in the Tustumena Lake area regarding a motorist assist. After a records check revealed White had a no bail arrest warrant for third-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree assault, and reckless endangerment, he was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On July 5 at 3:34 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle near Mile 131 of the Sterling Highway for speeding and contacted the driver, Devon Corbell, 29, of Anchor Point. After a records check showed that Corbell’s license was suspended, he was given a summons to appear and released.
On July 4 at 9:16 a.m., Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Seward were notified of a bear attack at Fourth of July Beach in Seward. The victim reported that he was sleeping in his camper with the door open, when a black bear entered the camper, scratched his leg, and attempted to bite his leg. The victim then scared the bear out of the camper, and it ultimately wandered back into the woods. The victim sustained minor injuries. At 4:48 p.m., Wildlife Troopers received multiple reports of a black bear raiding camps, bluff charging campers, and showing no fear of people in the same area where the initial attack occurred. Wildlife Troopers responded to the scene and observed the black bear on the beach, walking toward campers. Based on the bear’s activities earlier that day and continued activities, the bear was deemed a public safety risk and dispatched. Its hide and skull will be turned into the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
On July 4 at 8:02 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle on North Fork Road, near the Sterling Highway in Anchor Point, for several traffic violations. Investigation showed the driver, Josiah Rudolph, 22, of Anchor Point, was under the influence of alcohol and was in the possession of two pistols. After Rudolph was arrested and subsequently refused to provide a breath sample, he was taken to Homer Jail.
On July 5 at 5:33 p.m., Kenai police responded to a theft report at a local Kenai business. Brianna C. Mitchell, 23, of Anchorage, was arrested for two counts of fourth-degree theft and violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On July 4 at 9:24 p.m., Kenai police responded to a 911 report of an assault at a local business. After investigation, Justin D. Whitmore, 38, of Kenai, was issued a summons for harassment.
On July 4 at about 9:00 a.m., Kenai police received a suspicious vehicle report about a vehicle parked in the woods near Iliamna Street. Police responded to the area and located an unoccupied 2011 Ford F150. A record check of the vehicle identification number determined the vehicle was listed as stolen out of Anchorage.
The vehicle was secured and impounded. After further investigation, Everett “Cruz” McCormick, 20, of Eagle River was arrested for first-degree vehicle theft. A records check showed McCormick had an outstanding $20,000 felony Anchorage Alaska State Troopers Justice System bench warrant failure to comply with probation on original charges of second-degree burglary and first-degree vehicle theft, $10,000 bail. Additionally, Mary R. Gafford, 23, of Eagle River, was issued a summons for fifth-degree criminal mischief and violating conditions of release.
On July 3 at 12:15 p.m., Kenai police responded to a residence for the report of a suspicious vehicle. After investigation, Jarred D, Esquiro, 33, of Soldotna, was arrested for fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On July 2 at about 3:00 p.m., Kenai police responded to a local store near Mile 10 of the Kenai Spur Highway and contacted a wanted subject, Ryan E. Doty, 36, of Kenai, who was arrested on a felony Soldotna Alaska State Troopers vehicle theft arrest warrant and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On July 7 at 1:44 a.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a white Dodge Dakota pickup on Johnson Lake Road for equipment violations and contacted David Brock Oder, 30, of Kasilof. Investigation revealed his license was revoked and that he had multiple prior convictions within 10 years. He was arrested for driving while license revoked and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility, then was released on his own recognizance with a future court date.
Charles Sampson, 33, of Anchorage was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for failing to record his personal use salmon onto his permit prior to leaving the fishing area or concealing from view. Bail was set at $120 in Kenai District Court.
On July 7 at 9:38 p.m., Alaska State Troopers (AST) attempted a traffic stop for a moving violation in Soldotna. The vehicle failed to stop and began to speed through residential neighborhoods, leading AST on a brief pursuit. The vehicle drove through the front and back yards of several residences, at one point colliding with the corner of a residence, causing several thousands of dollars in damages. The vehicle continued a short distance and crashed into a fence. AST and Soldotna police officers quickly converged on the area but were unable to locate the driver, who had fled on foot. The driver was identified as Luke Lester, 29, of Soldotna. Lester already has a $5,000 warrant for his arrest and has eluded and fled in the past. Warrants will be sought for Lester’s arrest for failure to stop, several counts of criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an accident. Anyone with information to the whereabouts of Lester should contact Soldotna AST at (907) 262-4453.
On July 7 at 12:12 a.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop near North Forest Drive and Fourth Avenue. Kayla C. Heinric, 24, of Kenai, was issued a summonsed on two counts of fifth-degree misconducted involving a controlled substance.
On July 7 at 1:15 p.m., Kenai police responded to a 911 REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) call on the Kenai Spur Highway. Lloyd W. Davis, 46, of Kenai, was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On July 7 at 11:18 p.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop near the Kenai Spur Highway and Birch Street. Tamsen L. Brewer, 37, of Kenai, was arrested on an Alaska State Troopers no bail warrant for failure to contact Wildwood to schedule remand on the original charge of driving while license revoked. Brewer was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On July 6 at 9:28 a.m., Soldotna police were conducting a security check in Swiftwater Park and were asked by park employees to check on the occupants of a campsite. Officers contacted the occupants, including Jack Lyons, 68, of Soldotna. Lyons was arrested on an outstanding warrant and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility. His vehicle was impounded, pending a search warrant being obtained. After the warrant was served, Lyons, who was still in custody, was additionally charged with three counts of fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and violating his conditions of release.
On July 4 at 4:35 p.m., Soldotna police responded to the River Terrace RV Park for a disturbance. Denver J. McClain, 46, of Soldotna, was arrested for two counts of third-degree assault and fourth-degree assault and taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On July 3 at 11:11 a.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on Warehouse Drive. A passenger in the vehicle, Shawn Lemes, 35, of Soldotna, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and for violating a domestic violence long-term protective order and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On July 3 at 9:34 p.m., Soldotna police responded to a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Devin Drive. Michelle Dodds, 48, of Anchorage, was driving a 2004 Subaru northbound on the Sterling Highway, approaching Devin Drive, when she rear-ended a 1975 Chevy Corvette that was stopping for traffic. After rear-ending the Corvette, Dodds’s Subaru continued through the intersection, left the roadway, and continued through the grass until it struck a large tree and came to rest. Dodds was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and two counts of third-degree assault and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On July 2 at 1:13 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a motorcycle near Mile 94 of the Sterling Highway. John Brake, 48, of Soldotna, was issued a criminal citation for having no vehicle insurance and a municipal citation for being an unlicensed driver and released. The motorcycle was impounded.
On June 30 at 2:25 p.m., Soldotna police received a report that Hollie A. Johnson, 37, of Soldotna, had pointed a pistol at four juveniles earlier in the day. Johnson was located in Kenai and found to be in possession of the firearm and a controlled substance within 500 feet of a school. On July 1, Johnson was contacted at her residence and arrested for four counts of third-degree assault, third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, and second-degree misconduct involving a weapon and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On June 29 at 1:03 p.m., Soldotna police received a call from Central Peninsula Hospital that Tanner Geiser, 33, of Soldotna, fled from the emergency room with hospital equipment still attached to him. While searching for him, Pretrial Enforcement Division employees advised that Geiser also cut off his electronic ankle monitor. Geiser was located, and he fled from officers on foot. After a short foot pursuit, Geiser was arrested for third-degree escape and disorderly conduct and taken to Wildwood Pretrial. The ankle monitor and hospital equipment were recovered.
On July 8 at 7:34 a.m., Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna were notified that a drift boat that originally had four passengers on the Kenai River, had un-anchored and started drifting downstream, stranding the two drift boat operators on a small island near Jim’s Landing. The other two individuals were still in the boat when it broke loose and began drifting downriver. Neither of the individuals who were left in the boat had any knowledge of how to operate a drift boat. The boat was drifting toward the Kenai River Canyon in Class III rapids. Central Emergency Services (CES), Federal Wildlife Officers, and Wildlife Troopers responded to the scene. CES deployed a watercraft at Jim’s Landing and was able to rescue all four individuals involved in the incident. All individuals involved were wearing personal floatation devices, and no injuries were sustained.
On July 8 at 8:35 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a reported stabbing at The Farm, 11828 Salmon Creek Road, in Seward. Investigation resulted in the arrest of Mark P. Edwards, 57, of Seward, for second-degree assault. An adult male was taken by Emergency Medical Services to Seward Providence Emergency Room for treatment of non-life-threatening wounds.
