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 Feb. 27 at 2:09 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a 2004 Honda SUV near Dutch Landing and Fontiane Court in Sterling. The driver of the SUV attempted to evade troopers and ran into a snow berm. Troopers identified the driver as Kiefer Riss, 30, of Sterling, who was found to be under the influence. Riss informed troopers he had provided a ride to a hitchhiker in exchange for methamphetamine and a meth pipe a couple days prior. Riss consumed the methamphetamine at some point and then drove his vehicle. He also had a loaded .22 rifle in his vehicle. Riss was arrested for driving under the influence, violating conditions of release, and fourth-degree involving weapons and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Feb. 26 at 11:54 p.m., Andrew Malone, 31, of Kenai, called 911, requesting a meeting with Alaska State Troopers to show them a drawing. Malone had a warrant for his arrest. Troopers met with Malone at a residence in Sterling, as he requested. He was arrested for the warrant and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Feb. 27 at 2:09 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a 2004 Honda SUV near Dutch Landing and Fontiane Court in Sterling. The driver of the SUV attempted to evade troopers and ran into a snow berm. Troopers identified the driver as Kiefer Riss, 30, of Sterling, who was found to be under the influence. Riss informed troopers he had provided a ride to a hitchhiker in exchange for methamphetamine and a meth pipe a couple days prior. Riss consumed the methamphetamine at some point and then drove his vehicle. He also had a loaded .22 rifle in his vehicle. Riss was arrested for driving under the influence, violating conditions of release, and fourth-degree involving weapons and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Feb. 26 at 11:54 p.m., Andrew Malone, 31, of Kenai, called 911, requesting a meeting with Alaska State Troopers to show them a drawing. Malone had a warrant for his arrest. Troopers met with Malone at a residence in Sterling, as he requested. He was arrested for the warrant and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Feb. 26 at 4:47 p.m., Alaska State Troopers (AST) responded to crash at Mile 12.5 of the Seward Highway. Investigation revealed that William Hagood, 58, of Palmer was driving his 2019 Ford Escape southbound, when Alex Schmelzenbach, 30, of Sterling, driving a Pacific Star Seafoods International flat-bed truck northbound, lost control of the truck on slick pavement, crossed the centerline, and collided with the Ford Escape. After extrication from his vehicle by Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Hagood was taken by Seward Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the Seward Providence Emergency Room, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 8:30 p.m. Schmelzenbach declined EMS at the scene. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor. Investigation is ongoing. After scene documentation was complete, a lengthy cleanup of the roadway was conducted, due to about 200 fresh whole cod and about 40 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at the scene. AST was assisted at the scene by National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service Rangers.
On Feb. 26 at about 9:20 p.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Haley Dougherty, 18, of Nikiski, during a traffic stop in Soldotna. After investigation revealed Dougherty was impaired by cannabis while operating a motor vehicle, she was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Feb. 25 at 3:15 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a crash at Mile 38 of the Seward Highway. William Leonard, 76, of Kenai, was southbound in his F150, when he lost control on slick pavement, crossed the centerline, and struck a northbound Subaru Forrester, driven by Thoma Lees, 69, of Kenai. No injuries were reported. Both vehicle were towed from the scene.
On Feb. 24 at 10:43 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a disturbance at the Pond Apartments in Seward. Investigation resulted in the arrest of Samuel Ferguson, 33, and Desiree Nosik, 42, both of Seward, for felony probation violations. Both were taken to the Seward Jail.
On Feb. 26 at 7:37 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash at Mile 38 of the Seward Highway. Johnia Saetern, 27, of Anchorage, was southbound, driving an Inlet Energy box truck, when he lost control on slick pavement, crossed the centerline, and struck the guardrail. The impact resulted in 30 gallons of flush oil being released onto the highway. Inlet Energy personnel responded to the scene for the oil cleanup. Saetern was issued a citation for driving too fast for conditions.
On Feb. 26 at 4:47 p.m., Alaska State Troopers (AST) responded to crash at Mile 12.5 of the Seward Highway. Investigation revealed that William Hagood, 58, of Palmer was driving his 2019 Ford Escape southbound, when Alex Schmelzenbach, 30, of Sterling, driving a Pacific Star Seafoods International flat-bed truck northbound, lost control of the truck on slick pavement, crossed the centerline, and collided with the Ford Escape. After extrication from his vehicle by Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Hagood was taken by Seward Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the Seward Providence Emergency Room, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 8:30 p.m. Schmelzenbach declined EMS at the scene. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor. Investigation is ongoing. After scene documentation was complete, a lengthy cleanup of the roadway was conducted, due to about 200 fresh whole cod and about 40 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at the scene. AST was assisted at the scene by National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service Rangers.
On Feb. 26 at about 9:20 p.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Haley Dougherty, 18, of Nikiski, during a traffic stop in Soldotna. After investigation revealed Dougherty was impaired by cannabis while operating a motor vehicle, she was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Feb. 25 at 3:15 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a crash at Mile 38 of the Seward Highway. William Leonard, 76, of Kenai, was southbound in his F150, when he lost control on slick pavement, crossed the centerline, and struck a northbound Subaru Forrester, driven by Thoma Lees, 69, of Kenai. No injuries were reported. Both vehicle were towed from the scene.
On Feb. 24 at 10:43 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a disturbance at the Pond Apartments in Seward. Investigation resulted in the arrest of Samuel Ferguson, 33, and Desiree Nosik, 42, both of Seward, for felony probation violations. Both were taken to the Seward Jail.
On Feb. 26 at 7:37 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash at Mile 38 of the Seward Highway. Johnia Saetern, 27, of Anchorage, was southbound, driving an Inlet Energy box truck, when he lost control on slick pavement, crossed the centerline, and struck the guardrail. The impact resulted in 30 gallons of flush oil being released onto the highway. Inlet Energy personnel responded to the scene for the oil cleanup. Saetern was issued a citation for driving too fast for conditions.
On Feb. 28 at 9:14 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report that Wildwood Pretrial Facility inmate Nathan Vandecoevering, 47, of Anchor Point, had strangled another inmate to unconsciousness after a disagreement. Vandecoevering was remanded at Wildwood Pretrial on new charges of first-degree, second-degree, and fourth-degree assault.
On Mar. 1 at 4:05 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence near the Clam Gulch post office in Clam Gulch. While at the residence, troopers contacted Kenny Martin Harris, 42, of Clam Gulch. Investigation revealed that Harris had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of driving while license revoked. He was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on $500 bail.
On Mar. 1 at 9:11 p.m., Alaska State Troopers located Kyle Barnes, 35, of Sterling, at a residence in Sterling. Barnes was taken in to custody without incident. Investigation and a search warrant service resulted in the following additional charges: two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance (with priors), second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance in the third degree, three counts of third-degree misconduct involving a weapon, five counts of second-degree misconduct involving a weapon, one count of second-degree theft (for possession of a stolen pistol), and one count of violating conditions of release on a felony case. Barnes was taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail, pending arraignment.
On Feb. 28 at 11:01 p.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Anthony J. Hieber, 45, of Kasilof, at his residence in Kasilof. Investigation revealed that Hieber had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for a driving under the influence charge, with $500 bail. Hieber was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Feb. 28 at 11:57 p.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Michael E. Patow, 36, of Kenai, and Sadie M. Larson, 29, of Kenai, in the Kenai Safeway parking lot. Investigation revealed that Patow had two outstanding warrants for failure to appear, one for a charge of fourth-degree assault, and one for failure to appear for promotion of contraband, each with $250 bail. Investigation also revealed that Larson had an outstanding warrant for third-degree theft (with prior convictions), with $250 bail. Larson was also charged with providing false information after providing a false name. Both were taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Feb. 27 at 7:09 p.m., Kenai police responded to a disorderly intoxicated male at a local Kenai business. Glen Luke, 53, of Anchorage was arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Feb. 26 at 3:05 p.m., Kenai police responded to a local Kenai business on a report of shoplifters. David W. Mosqueda, 47, of Soldotna, was issued a summons for fifth-degree criminal mischief.
On Mar. 2 at about 6:30 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a reported domestic disturbance at a residence near Mile 16 of Funny River Road. After investigation, Dawn Marie Peters, 47, of Soldotna, was arrested for first-degree criminal trespass (domestic violence) and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail, pending arraignment.
On Mar. 1 at 11:01 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report of a domestic violence assault that had occurred two days prior. After investigation, Cody Bartelmay, 31, of Soldotna, was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail for domestic violence charges of two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, four counts of fourth-degree assault, and first-degree harassment.
On Mar. 1 at 11:01 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report of a domestic violence assault that had occurred two days prior. After investigation, Cody Bartelmay, 31, of Soldotna, was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail for domestic violence charges of two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, four counts of fourth-degree assault, and first-degree harassment.
On Mar. 2 at about 1:50 p.m., Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle for traffic violations at a business in Ninilchik. The driver, who initially gave a false name, was later identified as Brandy Taylor, 29, of Ninilchik. Taylor was found to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest. Investigation showed Taylor’s license was revoked, and she was in possession of methamphetamine. Taylor was arrested and taken to the Homer Jail.
On Mar. 2, Alaska State Troopers charged Iris Strongheart, 21, of Anchor Point, with multiple counts of assault after new information came to light regarding an investigation started on Sept. 1. On Sept. 1, Strongheart’s victim was treated for stab wounds at the Homer Hospital and initially claimed that an unknown person had cut him. While conducting a separate investigation regarding Strongheart, troopers received information that Strongheart had stabbed/cut the victim, who subsequently confirmed that Strongheart had been the one who stabbed/cut him. Strongheart was already in custody at Wildwood Pretrial Facility, and she was remanded on the new charges.
On Mar. 3 at 12:16 a.m., Kenai police responded to a disturbance on Sprucewood Road. Jesse D. Meader, 40, of Kenai, was arrested on an Alaska State Troopers no bail arrest warrant for fifth-degree criminal mischief (domestic violence) and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Mar. 3 at 2:07 p.m., Kenai police responded to a local Kenai business on a robbery report. Brian E. Sparks III, 27, of Soldotna, was arrested for first-degree robbery and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Mar. 3 at 10:34 p.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop on Marathon Road near Daubenspeck Park. James J. Emerson, 50, of Nikiski, was arrested for driving while license revoked and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Mar. 3 at 12:16 a.m., Kenai police responded to a disturbance on Sprucewood Road. Jesse D. Meader, 40, of Kenai, was arrested on an Alaska State Troopers no bail arrest warrant for fifth-degree criminal mischief (domestic violence) and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Mar. 3 at 2:07 p.m., Kenai police responded to a local Kenai business on a robbery report. Brian E. Sparks III, 27, of Soldotna, was arrested for first-degree robbery and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Mar. 3 at 10:34 p.m., Kenai police conducted a traffic stop on Marathon Road near Daubenspeck Park. James J. Emerson, 50, of Nikiski, was arrested for driving while license revoked and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
