Public safety briefs for Jan. 17, 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.

On Jan. 9 at 7:15 a.m., Alaska State Troopers were notified of a vehicle running on the side of the road that appeared to be unoccupied. Troopers responded to Mile 19 of the Kenai Spur Highway. Investigation revealed that two people were passed out in the vehicle while it was on. The driver was removed from the car after refusing to cooperate with the troopers and was arrested for driving under the influence. He provided a false name and refused to provide a breath sample. He was later identified as Dennis Thrasher, 31, of Anchorage and Nome and had an outstanding arrest warrant for second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and first-degree sexual assault. A records check also revealed he had a revoked license. Thrasher was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Jan. 9 at 6:17 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the Sterling area. Investigation revealed that Christone Susky, 25, of Big Lake, had recently assaulted a family member. Susky was arrested for fourth-degree assault and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility, without bail.

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On Jan. 6 at 2:39 p.m., Alaska State Troopers in Homer responded to a motor vehicle crash on East End Road at the intersection with Walters Street. Callers reported the vehicle had fled the scene, but they provided a license plate number of the vehicle. Investigation showed that Carl Usoltseff, 30, of Razdolna, was driving a vehicle that struck a stand of mailboxes, then drove off. Usoltseff was given a summons and released.

On Jan. 3 at 12:44 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report of an assault that had taken place in Voznesenka. Investigation showed that Petro Basargin, 36, of Voznesenka, has assaulted a family member. Basargin was arrested and taken to the Homer Jail.

On Jan. 3 at 7:56 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle on Bourbon Avenue, off the Sterling Highway, for equipment violations. The driver was identified as Nicholas Guarnere, 39, of Ninilchik, who had a revoked license. Guarnere was also found to be on conditions of release in a previous case. Guarnere was given summons to appear for driving while license revoked and violating conditions of release and released.

On Dec. 29 at 1:18 p.m., Alaska State Troopers were contacted by the manager of The Warehouse grocery in Anchor Point about a theft. Investigation showed that Nicholas Guarnere, 39, of Ninilchik, had stolen items from the store on two separate occasions. Guarnere was later contacted and given a summons to appear.

On Dec. 28 at 3:28 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report of a debit card theft in Anchor Point. Investigation showed that Kari Curry, 32, of Anchor Point, had stolen and used the card. During the investigation, search warrants were issued and served on Curry’s residence and vehicle. During the search warrant service, Curry was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and attempted to destroy some of the methamphetamine to keep troopers from being able to collect it. While being arrested, Curry resisted and was eventually placed into custody and taken to the Homer Jail.

On Dec. 28 at 3:04 p.m., Alaska State Troopers in Homer received a report from a male that a former employee was sending harassing texts to him and his family. Investigation showed that Gregory Weaver, 50, of Big Lake, had sent harassing texts to the complainant and various family members. Weaver was contacted by Palmer Troopers and given a summons to appear and released.

On Jan. 9, Alaska State Troopers received a report that an adult female had been assaulted by Christopher Barth, 42, of Kenai, while parked in an isolated area between Kenai and Nikiski. Troopers and Kenai police officers responded and located Barth and the female. Investigation revealed that Barth was impaired by controlled substances and was operating a vehicle. Further investigation revealed Barth had committed two counts of first-degree sexual assault and kidnapping. During an interview with an investigator at the Soldotna Alaska State Troopers Post, Barth punched a sheetrock wall, causing damage to the wall. He was arrested and taken to the Wildwood Correctional Complex for two counts of first-degree sexual assault, kidnapping, driving under the influence, and fifth-degree criminal mischief.

On Jan. 10, Kenai police arrested David A. Duncan, 32, of Kenai, for violating conditions of release on Jan. 9. Duncan was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

On Jan. 10 at about 4:00 a.m., Kenai police responded to an unruly female at a local Kenai business. Tavian P. Borowski, 29, of Anchorage, was arrested for violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Jan. 9, Kenai police responded to a disturbance on Peninsula Avenue. Andrei Artamonov, 23, of Kenai, was issued a summons for disorderly conduct. Austin S. Jackson, 22, of Kenai, was issued a summons for second-degree harassment.

On Jan. 8 at 12:27 p.m., Kenai police responded to Frontage Road on a report of an assault. Pedro J. Rodriguez, 52, of Kenai, was arrested for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Jan. 7 at 8:41 p.m., Kenai police responded to a local Kenai business for an individual trespassing, Robert Wayne Westover, 50, of Kenai, was issued a summons for second-degree criminal trespass.

UPDATE:

The driver of the 2019 Volkswagen Golf has been identified as Allen Solomon 31, of Fairbanks. Next of kin have been notified.

ORIGINAL POST:

On Jan. 12 at 1:33 p.m., the Soldotna Public Safety Communications Center received reports of a vehicle versus road grader collision on the Seward Highway. Alaska State Troopers responded to the scene. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2019 Volkswagen Golf was traveling north on the Seward Highway, near Mile 30, at a high rate of speed. The Volkswagen then struck the rear end of a State of Alaska DOT&PF road grader that was actively plowing. The driver of the Volkswagen was declared deceased at the scene. There were no injuries to the DOT&PF road grader operator. Both vehicles will need to be towed from the scene. It appears alcohol was a contributing factor to the collision. The driver of the Volkswagen was not wearing a seat belt. The driver will be identified once next of kin have been notified.

On Jan. 13 at 1:59 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a disturbance in Anchor Point and contacted River Wilson, 27, of Anchor Point. Investigation found Wilson had committed an assault during an argument. Wilson was arrested for first-degree and fourth-degree assault and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.

On Jan. 13 at 12:08 p.m., Soldotna Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic on a green 1996 Subaru Legacy for a speed violation at about Mile 10 of Kalifornsky Beach Road. After investigation, Janelle M. Gassler, 35, of Anchor Point, was issued a misdemeanor citation for driving while license suspended and released on her own recognizance.

On Jan. 13 at 4:02 p.m., Soldotna Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a gray 2002 Ford F-150 for an equipment violation at about Mile 24 of the Kenai Spur Highway. After investigation, Daniel A. Spiers, 33, of Kenai, was issued a misdemeanor citation for driving while license revoked and released on his own recognizance.

On Jan. 13 at about 4:30 p.m., Soldotna police contacted the occupants of a vehicle near the intersection of the Kenai Spur Highway and Knight Drive. Darren Sanger, 35, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving while license revoked and violating his court-ordered conditions of release and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.

On Jan. 13 at 8:31 p.m., Soldotna police responded to a possible disturbance at a residence on Pace Street. Sherry Maestas, 44, of Soldotna, was arrested for violating her court-ordered conditions of release and taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.

On Jan. 12 at 9:17 a.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on the Sterling Highway near Lover’s Lane. Georgia Tackett, 41, of Soldotna, was issued a criminal citation for driving while license revoked and released.

On Jan. 10 at 10:36 p.m., Soldotna police received a complaint of a theft from a residence on Pace Street. On Jan. 11, investigation led to Shane Schneider, 18, of Soldotna was being issued a criminal citation for third-degree theft and released.

On Jan. 11 at 4:17 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kobuk Street. Jacob Keisling, 43, of Kenai, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.

On Jan. 1 at 5:56 a.m., Soldotna police received a report of a burglary at the Hooked on the Bean coffee stand on Kalifornsky Beach Road. Investigation led to Beau Hensley, 18, of Soldotna, being issued criminal citations for second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, and third-degree criminal mischief and released.

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