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 Oct. 23, Alaska Wildlife Troopers assisted Alaska State Troopers with removing a brown bear cub that had been struck by a vehicle and killed near Mile 58 of the Sterling Highway. Another brown bear cub in the area continued to enter and remain in the roadway, despite several attempts by wildlife troopers to chase it from the area. The bear’s presence on the road constituted a hazard for motorists, and the decision was made to put the bear down. Both bears were turned over to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. It is believed that both cubs were orphaned after their mother had been struck and killed by a vehicle in the same area two days prior.
On Oct. 23 at 10:25 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle collision on Swanson River Road in Sterling.Investigation revealed that Benjamin Clare, 39, of Kasilof, was driving a Peterbilt semi truck northbound on Swanson River Road, when a Chevy van, driven by Jeannette Shaw, 48, of Sterling, was turning onto the roadway from a side street.Shaw struck the rear of the trailer as it went by.The van sustained major front end damage. The trailer didn’t sustain any damage.No injuries were reported.Seatbelts were worn by all occupants.
On Oct. 25 at 12:25 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a 1986 Chevrolet pickup at about Mile 10 of the Kenai Spur Highway. After investigation, driver Taylor McCoy, 28, of Kenai, was arrested and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail on charges of no motor vehicle insurance, improper use of registration, and violating conditions of release.
On Oct. 24 at 11:04 a.m., Kenai police responded to Harbor Drive on a report of a person with a warrant. Stacy L. Nielsen, 51, of Soldotna was arrested on an Alaska State Troopers $150 failure to appear for arraignment bench warrant on the original charge of driving under the influence and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Oct. 23 at 12:43 a.m., Kenai police responded to a welfare check on Peninsula Avenue. Doris J. Lageson, 57, of Kenai, was arrested for second-degree, third-degree, and two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and was additionally arrested on a federal arrest warrant for supervised release violation and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Oct. 23 at 2:51 pm Kenai police responded to a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) report on the Kenai Spur Highway near Beaver Loop Road. Travis W. Lafrance, 32, of Kenai, was arrested for driving under the influence and fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Oct. 22 at 3:25 a.m., Kenai police contacted a suspicious vehicle on Bluff Street by Frontage Road. Beau E. Hensley, 18, of Soldotna, was issued a summons for sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.
On Oct. 26 at about 7:10 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence on Iliamna Loop in Soldotna for a reported disturbance. Investigation revealed that Eleanor Olanna, 33, of Soldotna, had tried assaulting a family member in her home. Olanna was arrested for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.
On Oct. 26 at about 9:00 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence on Dema Hona Avenue in Soldotna for a reported vehicle that had driven into a ditch. Investigation revealed that Harley Davidson, 62, address unknown, was the driver of the reported vehicle. Davidson was arrested for violating conditions of release and driving while license revoked and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.
On Oct. 28 at 10:28 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a reported vehicle stuck in the ditch on Ocean Entrance Drive, near Kenai. Investigation revealed that Willie Lee Sikes, 54, of Kenai, had driven a silver 2002 Mercury car into the ditch. In his vehicle were Sara Anne Mitchell, 29, of Kenai, and three young children. Sikes walked to a nearby residence with the children and returned, with the children, in a brown 1984 Dodge pickup with which he was attempting to pull the Mercury from the ditch. Mitchell was operating the Mercury during the attempt to free it from the ditch. Investigation revealed that both Sikes and Mitchell were impaired and under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, Mitchell gave false information concerning her identity and attempted implicating another, unrelated, person in the crime. Sikes was arrested for two counts driving under the influence and six counts first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Mitchell was arrested for driving under the influence, two counts making a false report, and one count violating conditions of release for violating bail conditions from a pending driving under the influence offense. Both were taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility and held until sober or release to a sober third party.
On Oct. 28 at 4:48 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on the Kenai Spur Highway near Big Eddy Road. Shay A. Darren, 55, of Kenai, was issued a criminal citation for driving while license revoked and released.
On Oct. 26 at 10:21 p.m., Soldotna police contacted the occupants of a vehicle on the Sterling Highway near Riverside Drive after a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) report was received. A male passenger fled the vehicle on foot and was taken into custody in the area. Zachary Kooly, 28, was found to not be in the custody of his court-appointed third-party and was arrested for violating his conditions of release and disorderly conduct and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Oct. 22 at 9:27 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on the Sterling Highway near Warehouse Drive. A passenger, David Pannick, 18, of Soldotna, was found to be in possession of marijuana. He was issued a criminal citation for sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and released.
On Oct. 20 at 6:56 p.m., Soldotna police responded to Fred Meyer store for a panhandling complaint. During the investigation, officers contacted Robert Berg, 36, of Kenai, who had an outstanding warrant. Berg resisted arrest and was also found to be in possession of controlled substances. Berg was taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail, charged with fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and the warrant.
On Oct. 16 at 9:44 p.m., Soldotna police attempted to stop a vehicle on the Sterling Highway. The vehicle did not stop and drove a short distance to the rear of the Blazy Mall, where the male driver fled from the vehicle and into the woods along the Kenai River. Officers located the male hiding in the woods, and he fled again and ended-up in the river. After a short time in the water, the male exited the water and was taken into custody by officers. Dagnall Moran-Tacey, 34, of Soldotna, was found to have removed his ankle monitor, in violation of his court-ordered conditions of release, and was also found to be in possession of controlled substances. He was arrested for fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, third-degree escape, disorderly conduct, and violating conditions of release and was taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Oct. 30 at 3:43 p.m. Alaska State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle collision on Kalifornsky Beach Road, near Centennial Drive, in Soldotna. Investigation revealed that James Eller, 23, of Kasilof, was driving his Toyota pickup on Kalifornsky Beach Road when he started to make a U-turn. Eller’s vehicle sideswiped a 2011 Chevy SUV, driven by Melinda Dykema, 34, of Kenai. Both vehicles sustained major damage but were drivable from the scene. All occupants were seat-belted and not injured. Eller was issued a citation for failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision.
On Oct. 30 at 4:07 p.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle collision on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Mile 17. Investigation revealed that Sierra Brooks, 21, of Soldotna, was driving her Ford Escape when she stopped suddenly for an animal in the roadway. Ryan Hughes, 34, of Soldotna, was driving a box van behind her and rear-ended her vehicle. Both vehicles sustained major damage and were driven from the scene. All occupants were seat-belted. Non-life-threatening injuries were reported for Brooks.
On Nov. 1 at about 1:10 a.m., Alaska State Troopers conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation in Soldotna. Investigation revealed that Steele Mahan, 22, of Soldotna, was driving while his license was suspended and that he had no liability motor vehicle insurance coverage. He was issued misdemeanor citations for both offenses.
On Nov. 1 at 2:42 a.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Asher Buerge, 20, of Soldotna, after he had high-centered his vehicle on a roadside trail at Mile 85.5 of the Sterling Highway in Sterling. Buerge was found to be impaired by alcoholic beverages. He was also found to be on pretrial release conditions for prior sexual abuse of a minor charges. He was arrested for driving under the influence and for violating his conditions of release and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Oct. 31 at 12:17 a.m., Alaska State Troopers responded to a 911 report about a shooting at an apartment building in Soldotna. Investigation revealed that Johannes Stott, 20, of Soldotna, had been at a party in Sterling earlier in the night. As he left the party, Stott stole beer from the party he attended. The party-goers, including the victim, located Stott at the apartment building around midnight and confronted him about the theft. During the argument, Stott produced a 12- gauge shotgun and fired one round at the victim, striking him in the leg with buckshot. The victim was life-flighted to Anchorage by air ambulance in serious but stable condition. Stott was arrested for first degree assault, fourth degree misconduct involving weapons, and fourth degree theft.
On Nov. 2 at about 3:30 a.m.,, Alaska State Troopers received a 911 open line call at about Mile 69 of the Seward Highway. An active disturbance was heard over the phone line. The phone number belonged to December Shugak, 43, of Kenai. At about 4:30 a.m., troopers made a traffic stop on a vehicle belonging to Shugak. The vehicle was being driven by Lloyd Zimin, 43, of Kenai, with Shugak in the back seat. Investigation revealed that Shugak had assaulted Zimin during the 911 phone call. Shugak was arrested for fourth-degree assault. Investigation also revealed that Zimin was in violation of conditions of release on the original charges of violating a domestic violence protective order and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence). Zimin was arrested for violating conditions of release. Both Shugak and Zimin were taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility without bail.On Nov. 1 at 7:59 p.m., Soldotna Alaska State Troopers received a 911 call for a reported disturbance. Troopers responded to the scene. After investigation, Vera Wright-Filiatraut, 56, of Sterling, was arrested for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and taken to Wildwood Pretrial without bail.
On Nov. 4 at 1:29 a.m., Alaska State Troopers contacted Staci Rea Fulton, 43, of Kenai, walking in the highway, causing motorists to take evasive action to avoid striking her. Alcohol was a significant factor. She was arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Nov. 3 at 1:18 p.m., Soldotna police contacted a vehicle near the intersection of the Kenai Spur Highway and Park Avenue after a REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) report was received. Heath Souter, 24, of Kenai was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
On Nov. 3 at 3:27 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle at Mile 94 of the Sterling Highway. Aaron Wirtanen, 21, of Soldotna, was issued a criminal citation for driving while license revoked and released.
On Oct. 30 at 2:38 p.m., Soldotna police contacted Paul Panamarioff, 18, of Soldotna, and arrested him on an outstanding warrant. He was taken to Wildwood Pretrial on $500 bail.
On Oct. 29 at 8:22 p.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on Birch Street near the Sterling Highway. Bridget E. Lander, 51, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Oct. 28 at 11:33 p.m., Soldotna police responded to a residence on Pace Street for a disturbance. Investigation showed that Sherry Maestas, 44, of Soldotna, had assaulted a 69-year-old woman while taking prescription medication from her immediate possession. Maestas initially fled the scene, but was later located and arrested for second-degree robbery and fourth-degree assault and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Oct. 24 at 1:21 a.m., Soldotna police stopped a vehicle on the Sterling Highway near Mackey Lake Road. Whitney Reynolds, 22, of Soldotna, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and breath test refusal and taken to Wildwood Pretrial.
On Nov. 5, Alaska State Troopers performed a traffic stop on a vehicle for a moving violation near Mile 23 of the Kenai Spur Highway in Nikiski. After investigation, Shawn Everette Moore, 50, of Kenai, was issued a misdemeanor traffic citation for driving while license revoked.
On Oct. 6 at 12:25 a.m., Alaska State Troopers received a Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately (REDDI) complaint that a vehicle had been driving erratically and was parked at the Longmere Lake boat ramp. Troopers located the vehicle and contacted the operator, Molly Hughes, 25, of Soldotna. Investigation revealed Hughes was operating the vehicle, was impaired by alcoholic beverages, and was in possession of a loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol. Hughes was arrested for operating under the influence and fourth degree misconduct involving a weapon, given a Datamaster breath test, and taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
