Alaska State Troopers Press Release of Monday, September 24, 2012 Any charges reported in these press releases are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A Detachment Location: Ketchikan Case number: AK12237843 Type: Warrant Arrest Text: On 9/23/2012 at approximately 2115 hours, the Alaska State Troo pers contacted 38 year old Eric J. Elmer of Ketchikan at approximately mile 11 of the North Tongass Highway in Ketchikan. AST had prior knowledge o f Elmer having an outstanding parole warrant for his arrest. Elmer was t aken into custody without incident and transported to the Ketchikan Correct ional Center where he was held without bail. Author: JKK0 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 9:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 9:03 AM B Detachment...No news reported. C Detachment ------------------------------------------------- Location: Gambell Case number: AK12236687 Type: Probation Violation Text: On 9-18-12, the Alaska State Troopers arrested James Walunga, 32 yoa of Gambell after an investigation showed that he had violated conditions of his probation by consuming homebrew alcohol. James was later transported and remanded to Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome. Author: GJF1 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 8:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 8:13 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Kodiak Case number: AK12237622 Type: Driving Under the Influence, Driving While License Revoked, Violating Conditions of Release Text: On 09/22/2012 at approximately 2133 hours, Alaska State Troopers resp onded to Mission Road near Mission Beach to assist an Alaska State Park Ran ger with a traffic stop. Investigation revealed the driver of the vehicle, Marlon R. Inga, age 39, of Old Harbor was driving with a revoked driver's l icense. Further Investigation revealed Inga was violating conditions of his release from a pending assault case. Alaska State Troopers also contacted David W. Heitman, age 47, of Kodiak in the vehicle and during the course of the investigation it was revealed that Heitman drove the vehicle earlier i n the evening while under the influence and impaired by alcohol. Inga was a rrested and transported to the Kodiak Police Department Jail where he was h eld with no bail pending arraignment. Heitman was also arrest and transport ed to the Kodiak Police Department Jail where he was held on $500 bail. Author: BTB0 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 9:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 9:03 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Aniak Case number: AK12237690 Type: DUI, MOCA, DWLR, MCA Text: On 9-23-12 at approximately 0805 hours, Aniak-based Troopers were d riving along Airport Boulevard when they observed a black GMC Sierra pickup driving erratically. The vehicle also had numerous visible equipment viol ations. State Trooper contacted the driver of the vehicle, 20 year old Cur tis Turner, at an Aniak residence. Turner was observed to have a strong od or of an alcoholic beverage about his breath and person. Turner subseque ntly failed field sobriety tests and seized a half-full container of R&R wh iskey from the driver's seat area of the vehicle. Additionally Turner's Al aska driver's license status is revoked. Turner was charged with having an open container, MOCA, DUI, Habitual MCA, and DWLR. Turner was transp orted without further incident to Bethel for remand to the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Complex. Author: KJB0 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 9:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 9:34 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Lower Kalskag Case number: AK12237186 Type: Assault II (DV), Disorderly Conduct, Theft II Text: On 09/21/2012 at 1007 hours, Alaska State Troopers in Aniak rece ived a report of an assault and theft that occurred in the village of Lower Kalskag. Investigation revealed that Ethan Kerr, age 21, of Lower Kalsk ag intentionally caused physical injury to a household member with a danger ous instrument and later challenged another village member to a fight. F urther investigation also revealed that an unknown suspect(s) stole items i n value of $1,000. Kerr was arrested on 09/22/2012 and transported to Be thel where he was remanded to YKCC without bail on the charges of Assault I I (DV) and Disorderly Conduct. The investigation continues regarding the theft. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alaska State Troopers at 675-4398. Author: DBK1 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 9:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 9:34 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Gambell Case number: AK12237454 Type: Warrant Arrest Text: On 9-18-12, the Alaska State Troopers in Nome arrested Ernest Booshu, 21 yoa of Gambell for an arrest warrant issued by the Nome court for Misconduct Involving Weapons in the 4th degree. Booshu was transported and remanded to Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome. Author: GJF1 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 10:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 10:45 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Mekoryuk Case number: AK12237774 Type: Sexual Assault II Text: On 9-23-12, at about 1230 hours, Alaska State Troopers were notified of an alleged sexual assault in the village of Mekoryuk. At this time th e incident is under investigation. Alcohol was a contributing factor. Author: TWW! Received Monday, September 24, 2012 10:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 10:28 AM D Detachment ------------------------------------------------------------------ Location: Mile 270 Parks Highway Case Number: AK12237159 Type: Attempted murder / Assault / Trooper involved fatal shooting Update: The Alaska State Troopers have released the names of the two State Troopers, members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) who fired their rifles at Atom Ziniewicz, resulting in his fatal injuries, near mile 270 of the Parks Hwy approximately noon on Friday 9/21/12. Sergeant Chad Goeden, a 16 year veteran of the Alaska State Troopers stationed in Fairbanks. Trooper Lucas Altepeter, a 6 year veteran of the Alaska State Trooper stationed in Fairbanks. On Friday, State Troopers were attempting to search the woods around several cabins in an effort to locate and arrest Ziniewicz, who had earlier shot a man. The man had escaped to the highway and sought medical assistance and reported the event to State Troopers in Fairbanks. As State Troopers searched the area, Ziniewicz appeared about 30 yards from the State Troopers and produced a handgun, resulting in the Troopers using deadly force. An autopsy is expected to be performed at the State Medical Examiner's office in Anchorage today. The investigation is still underway by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, the results of which will be turned over to the Department of Law's Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals to evaluate whether the use of deadly force by the Troopers was legally justifiable. UPDATE: Alaska State Troopers have identified the victims who reported they had been assaulted this morning near mile 270 of the Parks Highway. Investigation revealed that Brenton A. Green, age 21 of Anchorage and Kimberly J. Scharber, age 21 of Wasilla were at a cabin when they were confronted by a man armed with a handgun. The man threatened both victims and shot Green twice. Both Green and Scharber fled the area and reported the incident to Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks at about 0645 hours. Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers including a K-9 Team and members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team from Fairbanks, Healy, Cantwell and Palmer all responded to the area and established a perimeter. At approximately noon when members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team attempted to arrest the armed suspect, two State Troopers fatally shot the suspect. The suspect has tentatively been identified as Atom Ziniewicz, age 34 of Falls Church, Virginia. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has responded to conduct an investigation into the incident. The State Trooper's names are being withheld for 72 hours in accordance with department policy. An autopsy will be performed on Monday by the State Medical Examiner's Office. Ziniewicz's family members have been notified of the incident. UPDATE: At approximately 1200 hours, the Alaska State Troopers encountered the shooting suspect. The suspect was armed. AST fired upon the suspect. The suspect is now deceased. Additional details of the circumstances surrounding the encounter and the identity of the suspect are under investigation. Travel along the Parks Highway in this area is now unrestricted. ORIGINAL TEXT: On 9-21-12 at approximately 0645 hours, Troopers in Fairbanks received a report of a shooting near mile 270 of the Parks Highway. An adult male victim and an adult female victim were able to flee from their attacker and call for help. The male victim received at least one gunshot wound and has been transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for treatment. The female was attended to by responding medical personnel but was not transported to a medical facility. Troopers from Fairbanks and Palmer, including members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team, have responded to the area. State Troopers have established two checkpoints along the Parks Highway with the assistance from personnel of Clear Air Force Base. One highway checkpoint is located at mile 267 of the Parks Hwy. The other highway checkpoint is set up at mile 276 of the Parks Hwy. Motorists traveling along the highway are cautioned to not stop, not pick up hitchhikers and if they see any suspicious activity to report it to troopers at the next checkpoint. This is an ongoing investigation. Identifications of the victims and other investigative information is not being released at this time. Received Monday, September 24, 2012 11:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 11:57 AM E Detachment ------------------------------------------------- Location: Homer Case number: AK12236477 Type: Driving While License Suspended Text: On 9/18/12, at 1030 hours, the Alaska State Troopers contacted Timoth y Barclay, 52, of Valdez during a traffic stop in Homer. Investigation reve aled Barclay was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's licens e. Barclay was subsequently arrested for Driving While License Suspended an d was remanded to the Homer Jail. Author: JSS2 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 11:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 11:51 AM AK Wildlife Troopers ------------------------------------------------- Location: Juneau / Pt. Retreat Case number: 12-42099 Type: Boating Safety / No Personal Flotation Device Text: On 9/23/12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers on board the PV Sentry issued Lucas J. Erickson, age 27, of Juneau a citation for failing to carry enoug h personal flotation devices for all persons on board his vessel, AK 5816 M . Erickson was given a $110 fine out of the Juneau District Court. Author: SRK1 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 10:24 AM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 11:00 AM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Kodiak Case number: TBD Type: Operate a vehicle without insurance Text: On 9/19/12 Wayne Sargent, age 52 of Kodiak was issued an AUC by Alaska Wildlife Troopers for failing to provide proof of insurance while operating a motorized vehicle on the Chiniak Hwy. Bail was set at $510.00 Author: PLF0 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 1:24 PM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 1:41 PM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Kodiak Case number: TBD Type: Sport fish without a license. Text: On 9/23/12, Dylan Bean, age 27 of Kodiak was issued an AUC by Alaska Wildlife Troopers for sport fishing for silvers in the salt water of Mill B ay without a 2012 sport fish license in his possession. Bail was set at $21 0.00 Author: PLF0 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 1:24 PM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 1:42 PM ------------------------------------------------- Location: Kodiak Case number: TBD Type: Operate a vehicle without insurance Text: On 9/16/12 Michelle Lawson, age 43 of Kodiak was issued an AUC by Ala ska Wildlife Troopers for failing to provide proof of insurance while opera ting a motorized vehicle on the Chiniak Hwy. Bail was set at $510.00 Author: PLF0 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 1:24 PM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 1:42 PM --------------------------------------------------------------- Location: Soldotna Case Number: TBA Type: Fail to Return Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon Permit Text: On 9-24-12 the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Soldotna issued a citation to Michael E. Cowan, 55 yoa from Soldotna, for failing to return his personal use fishing report to ADF&G by 8/15/12 as required. Bail was set at $210. Author: PEM9 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 3:24 PM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 3:02 PM AK Bureau of Investigation...No news reported. Headquarters...No news reported. AK Bureau of Highway Patrol ------------------------------------------------- Location: Wasilla Incident Number: AK12238055 Type: DUI / MICS VI Text: On 9/24/12 at 1902 hours, MATCOM Emergency Dispatch Center received a REDDI report on a 2006 silver Chevrolet passenger car for driving erratic on Seldon Rd. near Wasilla Fishhook Rd. in Wasilla. Alaska State Trooper s Bureau of Highway Patrol located the vehicle at 1905 hours, and conducted a traffic stop at Seldon Rd. and Wasilla Fishhook Rd. and made contact wit h the operator of the vehicle who was identified as Erin Matthew Hogan, age 22 of Wasilla. Investigation revealed Hogan was Driving Under the Influ ence of alcohol and was in possession of Marijuana. Hogan was arrested f or DUI and MICS VI. Hogan was transported to and remanded in MSPT with h is bail set at $500.00. Author: DLH2 Received Monday, September 24, 2012 10:24 PM and posted Monday, September 24, 2012 10:29 PM AK Bureau of Judicial Services...No news reported. AK Div of Fire and Life Safety...No news reported. End of Dispatch