Information for this report was taken from publicly available law enforcement and public safety records and include arrest and citation information. Anyone listed in this report is presumed innocent.
On Feb. 27 at 3:37 a.m., Soldotna Alaska State Troopers stopped a Jeep Grand Cherokee for having inoperative brake lights and turn signals on a trailer it was towing. Subsequent investigation found that the driver, Frank Marotta, 43, of Soldotna, was driving on a suspended license and without insurance. Further investigation found that the Jeep had license plates belonging to a different Jeep, and the registration was expired. Marotta was issued minor offense citations for driving with a suspended license and expired registration. Marotta was additionally issued misdemeanor citations for improper use of plates and no insurance. Marotta’s passenger, Scott Jezorski, 27, of Soldotna, was found to have three outstanding warrants for his arrest. Jezorski was arrested on the warrants without incident and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail. Jezorski’s warrants were for previous fourth-degree assault and violating conditions of release cases.
On Feb. 25 at 3:16 p.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report of a vehicle collision involving injuries near Mile 49.5 of the Sterling Highway in Cooper Landing. Investigation revealed that Mathew Cannava, 48, of Soldotna, was driving southbound on the Sterling Highway, exceeding the posted speed limit. He accelerated in an icy area of the roadway, which caused the vehicle to lose control. The vehicle entered the southbound ditch and collided with a tree, and he was entrapped inside the vehicle. Once extricated, LifeMed arrived on scene and took Cannava to Alaska Providence Medical Center. He was wearing his seat belt during the incident, and impairment was not a factor.
On Feb. 27 at 2:45 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a motor vehicle collision on Chickadee Avenue in Nikiski. Investigation revealed that Cynthia Felton, 59, of Nikiski, was driving a 2012 Ford Fusion north on Chickadee Ave when attempting to pass a Petro 49 Incorporated International 2007, driven by Perry Brown, 57, of Kenai. Felton’s vehicle got sucked into the southern embankment and could not move over any more, while Brown’s vehicle was over as far as it could go when the vehicles side-swiped each other. No citations were issued, and both vehicles drove away from the scene of the collision.
On Feb. 26 at about 9:20 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a motor vehicle collision at Holt-Lamplight Road and Black Bear Circle in Nikiski. Investigation revealed that Kimberly Schilling, 18, of Nikiski, was driving a 2016 Audi A6 on Holt-Lamplight when passing a dark blue Dodge truck. The Dodge truck had its right blinker illuminated when Schilling was passing, but turned left into Schilling, pushing her into a snow bank. The Dodge truck fled the scene of the collision prior to the trooper’s arrival. Investigation is ongoing.
On Feb. 26 at 8:37 a.m., Alaska State Troopers received a report of a two-vehicle collision on Panoramic Drive in Sterling. Investigation revealed that Coleen Eisele, 38, of Sterling, was backing up in her Buick SUV when she struck a Ford sedan that was parked, waiting for the school bus. A six-year-old female was exiting the Ford sedan and was pinned between the door and car. The girl suffered a broken arm and was treated at the hospital. There were minor damages to the vehicles. Investigation is continuing.
On Feb. 27 at 5:48 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a single-vehicle rollover near Mile 41 of the Sterling Highway. Investigation showed that the vehicle lost traction on the icy road surface, exited the roadway, and overturned. A two-year-old passenger of the vehicle was taken by Emergency Medical Services to Anchorage Providence Hospital for evaluation.
On Feb. 27 at 9:25 p.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Kenai for expired registration. Investigation revealed that the passenger, Steven Meyer, 45, of Wasilla, had a warrant for a probation violation. Steven was also charged with providing false information to a police officer, because he provided a false name. Meyer was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Feb. 26 at 8:07 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian near Mile 39 of the Seward Highway. Investigation showed that a pickup truck traveling southbound struck a 25-year-old male from Anchorage, who was outside of his vehicle in pullout. The injured male was medevaced to Anchorage Providence Hospital by LifeMed and is expected to recover.
On Feb. 24 at 10:48 a.m., Soldotna police contacted Melissa Towarak, 45, of Soldotna, and found she had been consuming alcohol, in violation of her court-ordered conditions of release. Towarak was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Feb. 23 at 10:04 a.m., Soldotna police responded to a two-vehicle collision on the Sterling Highway at East Redoubt Avenue. One of the involved drivers, Melissa Towarak, 45, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, endangering the welfare of a minor, and leaving the scene of a damage-only collision. She was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Feb. 22 at 2:24 a.m., Soldotna police were conducting a security check at Soldotna Creek Park during closed park hours and located an occupied vehicle. The driver, Nathaniel Myers, 19, of Kenai, was found to be in possession of marijuana. Myers was issued criminal citation for fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and released.
