Kenai Police arrest 2 on charges of kidnapping, assault

The alleged incident was reported Saturday

The badge for the Kenai Police Department.

The badge for the Kenai Police Department.

Two men were arrested Saturday by Kenai Police on charges of kidnapping and assault.

According to an affidavit written by Investigator Ian Hall and included with charging documents, Kenai Police Department were called around 10 a.m. on Saturday, the caller saying that John Martin, 57, of Kenai, and Douglas Massey, 62, of Nikiski, had held the caller hostage in a home on the Kenai Spur Highway, near Mountain View Elementary, from around 8 p.m. Friday until they escaped and used a neighbor’s phone to call police.

Kenai Police Officer Megan Swangel responded and brought the alleged victim back to the department for a statement, the affidavit says. Swangel observed bruises and marks on their head, arms and shoulder.

The alleged victim said they went to Massey’s home to collect money that Massey owed. When they arrived, only Martin was there. Massey arrived sometime later, the affidavit says, and when Massey couldn’t pay what he owed, he began to assault the alleged victim, the affidavit says.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

A search warrant was issued for Massey’s home, and Kenai Police searched the home at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The affidavit says they found several tools that were reported to have been used in the assault, as well as the alleged victim’s stolen iPhone, car and clothes. They were able to find “blood spatter” in areas described by the alleged victim.

Massey and Martin were detained, the affidavit says, and were each questioned by Hall.

Massey said, according to the affidavit, that he came home late on Friday and found Martin and the alleged victim “hanging out,” denying striking them or seeing anyone else striking them.

Martin said that he didn’t know anyone other than Massey was ever at the house Friday night, and that “he had no idea” what Hall was talking about.

Both men were transported to Wildwood, the affidavit says. Martin was charged with second- and third-degree assault, second-degree sexual assault, kidnapping and fifth-degree misconduct involving controlled substances. Massey was charged with second- and third-degree assault and kidnapping.

According to charging documents, a kidnapping charge describes the alleged crime of restraining another person with the intent to inflict physical injury upon or sexually assault that person, or to place that person or any other in apprehension that they would be subjected to physical injury or sexual assault.

The charge of second-degree assault describes the alleged crime of causing physical injury to another person with a dangerous instrument and the intent to do so. The charge of third-degree assault describes the alleged crime of recklessly placing someone in fear of serious physical injury with a dangerous instrument, recklessly causing physical injury with a dangerous instrument and intentionally placing someone in fear of death or making repeated threats to cause death or serious injury.

The charge of second-degree sexual assault describes the crime of engaging in sexual contact without consent, and fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fifth degree describes the crime of possessing a controlled substance.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Nikiski graduates view their slideshow during a commencement ceremony at Nikiski/Middle High School in Nikiski, Alaska, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘We need to change the world’

Nikiski Middle/High School graduates 31 on Monday.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Education funding boost stands as lawmakers successfully override Dunleavy veto

Three of the peninsula’s legislators voted to override the veto.

Jeff Dolifka and his children perform the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula’s Royce and Melba Roberts Campus in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘So proud of what we accomplished’

New Boys and Girls Clubs campus dedicated Saturday with a ribbon-cutting and donor recognition.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy vetoes 2nd bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Graduate Paxton McKnight speaks during the graduation ceremony at Cook Inlet Academy near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Beginning a new season of their lives

Cook Inlet Academy graduates seven.

The wreckage of Smokey Bay Air plane N91025 is photographed after residents pulled it from the water before high tide on April 28, 2025, in Nanwalek, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of NTSB)
Preliminary report released on Nanwalek plane crash

The crash killed the pilot and one passenger and left the other passenger seriously injured.

Member Tom Tougas, far right, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Tourism Industry Working Group in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tourism working group rejects bed tax, recommends seasonal sales tax adjustment

The document includes a section that says the borough could alternatively leave its tax structure exactly as it is.

The rescued sea otter pup looks at the camera in this undated picture, provided by the Alaska SeaLife Center. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Stranded otter pup rescued from Homer beach

She is estimated to be around 2 months old and was found alone by concerned beach walkers.

Most Read