Feb. 4

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

On Jan. 31 at about 4:50 p.m., Alaska State Troopers arrested Max Cragun, 52, of Anchor Point, at an address on the Old Sterling Highway. Cragun was arrested after investigation showed he had been in possession of methamphetamine on Jan. 28. Further investigation showed that Cragun was on conditions of release in several other criminal cases. Cragun was taken to the Homer Jail, pending arraignment.

Trooper Involved Shooting UPDATE: The trooper who discharged his service weapon on Jan. 20 is identified as Sergeant Robert Hunter, “A” Detachment Soldotna Patrol. Sgt. Hunter is a 20-year veteran of the Alaska State Troopers.

ORIGINAL POST:

On 1/29/2020 at approximately 1815 hours, the Alaska State Troopers in Soldotna received a report of a domestic disturbance in the area of Coho Loop. It was reported that a firearm was discharged during the disturbance. Troopers arrived and contacted a male subject identified as Justin Leman, 32 of Kasilof. Leman ran from the home and into the woods. Multiple Troopers tracked Leman through the woods. At approximately 2042 hours, Leman produced a weapon toward a Trooper and was fired upon. Despite life saving measures and LifeMed being dispatched, Leman succumbed to his injuries on scene. No Troopers, nor any other member of the public, reported any injuries. Next of kin for Leman has been notified. ABI and members of the General Investigative Unit in Soldotna are investigating the totality of the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident. The personnel with the Alaska State Troopers that discharged a firearm during the incident will be named following a mandatory 72-hour administrative leave, per department policy. Once the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to Special Prosecutions, within the Department of Law, for review.

On Feb. 1 at 11:01 a.m., Alaska State Troopers received a 911 call from a residence on Fools Gold Street in Soldotna. In the background of the call, an active disturbance could be heard. Troopers responded, and investigation revealed that Paul Joseph Friedt, 55, of Soldotna, had recklessly caused injury to a member of the household and had placed them in fear of imminent physical danger. Subsequent investigation revealed that Friedt had possessed a firearm while impaired by alcohol and was on conditions of release from a prior case not to consume alcohol. Friedt was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault, one count of fourth-degree misconduct involving weapons, one count of reckless endangerment, and two counts of violating conditions of release.

On Feb. 1 at about 9:30 p.m., Alaska State Troopers was notified by a concerned citizen that Ellis Armstrong, 62, of Nikiski, was intoxicated and driving from Kenai. Troopers located Armstrong a short time later at his residence in Nikiski. Investigation revealed that he had operated his vehicle while impaired by alcoholic beverages. He was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Feb. 2 at 1:58 a.m., Kenai police responded to a welfare check on Peninsula Avenue. Randall S. Cronce, 46, of Kenai, was arrested on two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Feb. 2 at about 3:00 a.m., Kenai police responded to a disturbance off Sprucewood Road. James S. Ivanoff, 24, of Anchorage was arrested for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Feb. 2 at 4:56 p.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop on the Kenai Spur Highway near Coral Street. Cody L. Little, 19, of Kenai was issued a summons for sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.

On Feb. 1 at 8:55 p.m., Kenai police responded a residence on North Forest Drive. After investigation, Marty R Myre, 51, of Kenai, was arrested for fourth-degree assault and third-degree misconduct involving a weapon and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Jan. 31 at 7:32 p.m., Kenai police responded to a local residence on Fourth Avenue. After investigation, Daniel R. Sipary, 36, of Kenai, was arrested on outstanding warrant $100 Soldotna Alaska State Troopers warrant for failure to appear for arraignment on the original charge of petition to revoke probation. He was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Jan. 30 at about 12:10 a.m., Kenai police responded to a vehicle in the ditch near the Kenai Spur Highway and Strawberry Road. Erika L. Mosiman, 44, of Fairbanks, was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Jan. 29 at 4:42, Kenai police responded to a residence on Aliak Drive. After investigation, Tonya S. Fry, 46, of Sterling, was arrested for fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, violating conditions of release, failure to appear for omnibus hearing on original charges of fourth-degree and fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, for a misdemeanor arrest warrant on the original charge of violating conditions of release for a misdemeanor, failure to appear for pretrial conference on the original charge of violating conditions of release, and failure to appear for pretrial conference on the original charge of violating conditions of release. She was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Feb. 3 at 7:17 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop near Diamond Ridge and the Sterling Highway. The driver of the vehicle, Crystal Golden, 32, of Anchor Point, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and taken to Homer Jail.

On Jan. 27, at 1:36 p.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the Old Sterling Highway and contacted the driver, Derek Ellis, 39, of Anchor Point. After investigation, he was issued a summons to appear in court for driving while license revoked and no motor vehicle insurance.

On Jan. 21 1:42 p.m., Alaska State Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop near Oil Well Road on the Sterling Highway. The driver continued to drive to a residence off of Bev Avenue in Ninilchik, where the vehicle stopped. The driver, Richard Nadeau, 58, of Ninilchik, was contacted as he exited the vehicle. Investigation revealed that Nadeau had a revoked license. He was arrested and taken to Homer Jail for driving with a revoked license and second-degree failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer.

On Dec. 27, at 12:28 p.m., Alaska State Troopers were notified of a burglary and theft at a remote cabin outside of Homer. About $5,000 worth of property was taken from the cabin.

On Feb. 3 at 1:33 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence on the Sterling Highway in Soldotna for an investigation, which revealed that Carolyn M. Crist, 27, of Soldotna, had entered a another’s residence unlawfully. Crist was arrested for criminal trespass (domestic violence) and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.

On Feb. 3 at 10:56 p.m., after observing an equipment violation, the Soldotna Alaska State Troopers K-9 Team conducted a traffic stop near Mile 74 of the Sterling Highway on a black 2004 Ford F-150, driven by Richard G. Poage, 43, of Anchorage. A check in the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) revealed that Poage has a suspended operator’s license for prior convictions of driving on a suspended operator’s license. Poage was arrested for driving while license revoked and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Feb. 3 at 11:35 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the Old Sterling Highway and contacted the driver, Cory White, 30, of Anchor Point. Investigation revealed that his license is revoked. He was also found to be in possession of about 2.5 grams of methamphetamine. White was arrested for fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and driving while license revoked and was taken to Homer Jail.