Man arrested after alleged power theft

A Kenai man was charged with criminal mischief and theft last week after allegedly illegally siphoning approximately $600 worth of electricity from a service line connected to his property.

Jeffrey N. Johansen, 42, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a class C felony, and third-degree theft, a class A misdemeanor, after Homer Electric Association reported that electrical wires had been tampered with at a Kenai home owned by Johansen, according to a police affidavit filed with the court.

The company, which discovered the alleged theft in December, told police that someone had bypassed the power meter by installing screws into a service line connected to the house, according to the affidavit.

Power to the home was shut off in May 2017, the company reported. They estimated the cost of power used between May and December 2017 to be approximately $600. Repairing damage to the line cost another $1,100 in labor and materials, according to the affidavit.

Two arrested after police find evidence of drug use and theft during search

A man and woman were arrested after a police search of a Kenai residence last week allegedly turned up stolen goods and evidence of drugs.

Pamela D. Rickard, 47, was charged with theft after police found suspected stolen goods, including approximately 30 fishing reels, 14 fishing rods, rain jackets, Garmin GPS, navigation antennas and a downrigger, during a March 3 search of her home, according to an affidavit filed with the court.

In October, owners of three Soldotna properties reported that approximately $39,000 in goods has been stolen from them, including thousands of dollars worth of fishing equipment and a GMC Suburban, according to police.

Along with the items that matched descriptions of those stolen in October, police also allegedly found items that had not specifically been reported as stolen from the Soldotna properties, including numerous pairs of waders and pellet guns.

Police also found burglary tools, including a pry bar, and saw evidence of illegal drugs, according to the affidavit.

Rickard faces one count of first-degree theft, a class B felony; as well as a misdemeanor drug charge in a separate case.

Tobias Mueller, 40, faces charges for getting into an altercation with the police serving search warrants at the home, according to a police affidavit. Mueller allegedly confronted police as they tried to seize cell phones as part of a drug investigation. Police tackled and handcuffed Mueller, who later said he was planning on stomping on his phone and destroying it, according to the affidavit.

Mueller faces charges of tampering with physical evidence, a class C felony; fourth-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor; disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor; and resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor.

Convicted arsonist faces multiple felony counts

A convicted arsonist was charged in Kenai court last week for smashing the window of a Kasilof store and stealing tobacco products.

Darrell S. Rogers, 33, was charged with second-degree burglary, a class C felony; third-degree criminal mischief, a class C felony; and fourth-degree theft, a class B misdemeanor.

The charges stem from a November 2017 incident, in which Rogers allegedly used a tire iron to break into the Kasilof Mercantile and steal $60 in tobacco products. The damage to the store window was estimated to be nearly $2,000, according to an Alaska State Trooper affidavit filed with the court.

The incident was one in a series of run-ins with law enforcement Rogers allegedly had between November and December last year. Two days before the incident at the Kasilof store, a trooper tried to pull over Rogers, who was driving a car with a trailer attached that had no tail lights or visible license plate, according to a trooper affidavit.

Rogers allegedly refused to stop, and led troopers on a chase from Soldotna to an address in Kasilof, where he took off on foot.

Rogers was arrested a month later at Sportman’s Warehouse, after a store employee and several others wrestled him to the ground for trying to steal about $100 worth of items from the store, according to a police affidavit. Rogers allegedly had concealed boxes of ammunition, a knife, fly box and remote switch for a tactical light.

Rogers told police he had taken the items because he wanted Christmas presents for his children, according to the affidavit.

Police also reported finding a handgun in a holster on Rogers’ back. Rogers is a convicted felon and was on felony probation at the time.

Rogers pleaded guilty in April 2011 to first-degree burglary and second-degree arson after he broke into a Soldotna home on New Year’s Eve 2009 and started two fires while the occupants slept.

He is facing burglary, theft, assault, weapons and reckless driving charges.