Nikiski mother and son face charges of armed robbery

A mother and son are due in court on charges of armed robbery and assault following an argument over a pit bull.

Lisa R. Traxinger, 47, and Cody D. Scroggins, 23, reportedly held a woman at gunpoint and dragged her out of her truck by her hair before taking the dog, according to an Alaska State Troopers affidavit filed with the court.

The incident was reported in the early morning hours of May 3, after the alleged victim showed up crying and disheveled at a house in Nikiski, according to troopers.

The woman — who left the house before troopers responded, but later called to report the incident — told troopers she had gone to Traxinger’s house looking for Scroggins earlier that morning.

While Traxinger and the woman argued outside Traxinger’s house, the dog jumped into the woman’s truck, according to the affidavit. The woman told troopers that she had given the dog to Scroggins and his family.

After the woman drove away with the dog in her truck, Scroggins allegedly chased her in his car, eventually blockading her truck at Escape Route Road. Traxinger then reportedly then pulled up to the woman’s driver’s side window in another car, got out and pointed a gun at her, while yelling at Scroggins to get the dog. The woman told troopers both Traxinger and Scroggins grabbed her hair and pulled her out of her truck and onto the gravel road.

After taking the dog, the two reportedly threw the woman’s car keys into the woods and took her cell phone.

Traxinger faces charges of first-degree armed robbery, a class A felony; second-degree theft, a class C felony; and third-degree assault, a class C felony. Scroggins is facing charges of first-degree armed robbery, a class A felony; second-degree theft, a class C felony; and fourth-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor.

Traxinger and Scroggins are scheduled for arraignment Tuesday afternoon.

Reach Erin Thompson at ethompson@peninsulaclarion.com.