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 Aug. 23 at 12:45 p.m., Alaska State Troopers observed a vehicle passing dangerously near Mile 90 of the Sterling Highway. The driver failed to pull over immediately and attempted to hide his vehicle after turning off the Sterling Highway. After investigation, Ryan James Wilson, 41, of Anchor Point, was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail on charges of driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, second-degree failure to stop for law enforcement, violating conditions of release, and no insurance.
On Aug. 20, Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Kristen Schmitz, 40, of Sterling, while she was sport fishing on the Kenai River. Schmitz did not have a 2020 sport fish license in her possession. She was issued a citation, with bail set at $220 in Kenai District Court.
On Aug. 21 at 1:08 a.m., Kenai police responded to a local business on a report of a woman trespassing. Tahonah L. Bassler, 61, of Kenai, was arrested for second-degree criminal trespassing and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Aug. 18 at 11:24 p.m., Kenai police conducted a routine traffic stop near the Kenai Spur Highway and Redoubt Avenue. After contacting all parties in the vehicle, Collins J. Fleming, Jr., 19, of Kenai, was issued a summons for sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.
In May of 2019, Alaska State Troopers, Anchor Point Post, discovered that an item containing a large amount of U.S. currency was missing. The Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation conducted an audit of the evidence facility at the Anchor Point Post and discovered that five items, totaling over $20,000 in cash, were missing. For the next several months, the FCU conducted an extensive investigation that determined that former Trooper Sergeant Jeremy Stone was responsible for the missing evidence items/money. On Mar 11, Stone was indicted by a Kenai Grand Jury for scheme to defraud, second-degree theft, and misapplication of property. A misdemeanor charge of official misconduct will be charged at a later date. An extraditable arrest warrant was issued for Stone, with a bail of $10,000. The FCU reached out to the U.S. Marshals to assist with locating and arresting Stone. On Aug. 21, the U.S. Marshals from the Western District of Washington located and arrested Stone at a residence in Coupeville, Washington. Stone is currently in Washington, awaiting extradition.
On Aug. 24 at 5:49 a.m., Alaska State Troopers Dispatch received a report of a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) vehicle. Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Bridge Access Road, After investigation found that Jaden Kissee, 20, of Kenai, was operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and also had a handgun in his possession, he was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility for driving under the influence and fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon.
On Aug. 11, Alaska State Troopers were reviewing the Sex Offender list for the southern Kenai Peninsula and found that Vasily Martishev, 49, of Voznesenka, was in non-comply status. Investigation showed Martishev was required to register as a sex offender yearly and had failed to register by the required date in 2020. Martishev was contacted on Aug. 25 and given a summons to appear in court.
On Aug. 26 at about 9:50 a.m., Alaska State Troopers in Anchor Point received information about the location of Katherine Hargett, 29, of Anchor Point, who had warrants for her arrest. Troopers responded to a local business in Anchor Point and contacted Hargett, who was arrested and taken to the Homer Jail on the three warrants, with a total bail of $1,250.
On Aug. 25, Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a male trespassing at a Soldotna residence. Investigation revealed that Garrett Tikka, 28, of Soldotna, had forced his way into the unoccupied residence of a family member. Tikka was arrested for burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail. The damage to the residence is estimated at $100.
On Aug. 26 at about 6:20 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence off Valley View Road in Sterling. After investigation, Dawn Ernestine Mathis, 47, of Illinois, was arrested for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.
On Aug. 25 at 11:05 a.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report about harassing voicemails being received by a female. Investigation showed that Sean Burns, 49, of Anchor Point, had left threatening voicemails on the female’s phone in the middle of June. Burns was contacted and admitted to leaving the messages. He was given a summons to appear in court for second-degree harassment.
On May 2, Alaska State Troopers in Seward received the report of a burglary on Stoney Creek Avenue in Seward. Investigation revealed that numerous tools and firearms had been stolen. On Aug. 28, troopers received information that Benjamin Miranda, 23, of Seward, had sold a chainsaw that was stolen in the burglary. Troopers obtained a warrant to search Miranda’s residence and vehicle and recovered a large amount of stolen property, including firearms and tools, plus two firearms that were reported stolen in other incidents. Miranda was arrested and taken to the Seward Community Jail on charges of first-degree and second-degree burglary, three counts of second-degree theft, possession of burglary tools, and fourth-degree and fifth-degree criminal mischief.
On Aug. 28 at 10:42 p.m., the Soldotna Alaska State Troopers K-9 Team responded to a report of a vehicle that had collided with a guardrail near Mile 23 of the Kenai Spur Highway. Upon arrival, the vehicle was identified as a tan 1987 Toyota 4-Runner. The vehicle and guardrail were heavily damaged. After investigation, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Lindsay M. Chouinard, 29, of Arizona, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility, where she was released on her own recognizance to a responsible party.
On Aug. 27 at about 5:30 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report from the Homer Police Department about a stolen vehicle that had been last seen driving northbound on the Sterling Highway, leaving Homer. At about 6:00 p.m., troopers observed a maroon truck matching the description of the stolen vehicle near Mile 145 and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to stop. Troopers pursued the vehicle until it crashed near Mile 116. The driver attempted to flee the scene, but was detained. Investigation resulted in Thomas Schultz, 34, of Anchorage, being arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility for one count of failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, two counts of first-degree vehicle theft, one count of third-degree assault, and one count of driving while license suspended.
