Police Beat: Feb. 3, 2008

ALASKA STATE TROOPERS

ROBBERY

Jan. 30, 8:06 p.m.: Troopers responded to a reported robbery at the Tesoro station near Mile 49 of the Parks Highway near Wasilla. A white male had entered the store and demanded cigarettes and cash from the clerk. He became angry and threatened the clerks when he was denied. The male was described as in his early 30s with medium-length brown hair, approximately 5-feet- 8-inches tall and slender to medium build with no facial hair. He was last seen running across the Parks Highway toward Pittman Road. Anyone with information is asked to contact Alaska State Troopers or Crime Stoppers at 745-3333

DWLCSR

Feb. 1, 3 a.m.: Troopers stopped a 1997 Chevy Cavalier for an equipment violation on Susitna Street at Knik-Goose Bay Road. The driver, Casey James, 25, of Wasilla, was driving with a suspended license. James was issued a summons and released.

WASILLA POLICE DEPARTMENT

VANDALISM

Jan. 29: A 49-year-old Wasilla woman from Wasilla High School reported she had just witnessed a young male attempting to break into her truck. When she yelled at the male, he ran into the woods. Police located the subject a few minutes later on Bogard Road near  Main Street. Thomas Watega, 20, of Wasilla had allegedly broken the wing window from the passenger side of the woman’s truck. Nothing had been taken, but charges will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office.

WARRANT ARREST

Jan. 27: Police arrested a juvenile at a residence on Lucille Street for two outstanding warrants in the amount of $250 for failing to appear on original charges of no valid operator license, minor operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol and for a misdemeanor family offense. The juvenile was transported to Juvenile Intake in Palmer.

Jan. 29: Police were advised of a group of individuals involved in a fight at the Tesoro Gas Station located at the intersection of Seward-Meridian Parkway and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. The group then left the area in a white car and were later located in the parking lot of Fred Meyer in Wasilla. Officers made contact with the group, including Kyle Mercer, 19, of Wasilla. While investigating the incident it was learned that Mercer was wanted on a $500 warrant for failing to comply with alcohol screening recommendations for a minor consuming alcohol offense. As a result, Mercer was placed under arrest for the warrant and remanded accordingly at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

WARRANT ARREST

Jan. 31: Police arrested Ari Packer, 38, of Wasilla after investigation revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. Packer was taken into custody and transported to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility where he was remanded.

DWLCSR

Jan. 31: Police summonsed Derrick Gill, 21, of Big Lake for driving with a suspended license. Investigation revealed Gill had been suspended due to a points violation. Gill was summonsed to appear in Palmer District Court on Feb. 12.

ASSAULT

Jan. 28: A 14-year-old male student placed a teacher in fear of physical injury when he picked up a chair in the middle of class and smashed it to the ground and broke it at Wasilla Middle School. The chair was valued at $104. The student is being charged with assault IV and criminal mischief IV.

THEFT / SHOPLIFTING

Jan. 30: A 43-year-old Wasilla man told police that sometime during previous evening someone had stolen his wallet out of his unlocked vehicle parked near Kalli Circle and Wasilla-Fishhook Road. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the police department at 352-5401 or Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.

Jan. 31: Police took a report of a vehicle theft. A 64-year-old Wasilla man reported he had left his vehicle, a 2003 Chevy pickup with Alaska plates FFD370, at the Mug Shot Saloon at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 30. Pike told police he went to retrieve his vehicle at approximately 10 a.m. on Jan. 31 and the vehicle was gone. Anyone with information regarding this theft is asked to call the police department at 352-5401 or Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333. The investigation continues.

Jan. 31: Police responded to Fred Meyer for a 17-year-old male shoplifter in custody. The juvenile had allegedly taken two bottles of diet pills without paying for them. Charges were forwarded to juvenile intake.

Jan. 31: Police were dispatched to Fred Meyer for a 17-year-old male shoplifter in custody.  The juvenile was charged with theft IV.

MVC

Jan. 25: Police were dispatched to the intersection of the Parks and Palmer-Wasilla highways for a two-vehicle collision. Kendell Wachtel, 27, of Big Lake was driving a Chevy Tahoe and was unable to stop and rear ended a Ford pickup operated by Michael Pendercrast, 60, of Wasilla. Pendercrast was westbound on the Parks Highway and had stopped for a red light at the intersection of the Parks Highway and Palmer-Wasilla Highway when he was rear ended.

Jan. 25: Police responded to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway exit of Fred Meyer for a report of a two-car collision. Michael Nabulsi, 19, of Eagle River stated he attempted to turn north onto the Palmer-Wasilla Highway from the Fred Meyer parking lot and did not see a truck which was operated by Jeffrey Hirsch, 48, of Wasilla. Nabulsi said he struck Hirsch’s truck in the right rear bumper area causing damage.

Jan. 25: Dena Powell, 29, of Wasilla reported she had been in a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Swanson Avenue and the Parks Highway and that the other vehicle had left the scene. A maroon pickup with a partial plate of “EUS” was identified. The pickup sustained minor front end damage. Anyone one with information about this accident is asked to contact the department at 352-5401 or Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.

Jan. 30: Police were dispatched to the Alaska Club for a two-vehicle collision.  Jeanne Borega, 61, of Wasilla had parked her vehicle and was getting out of the vehicle when her door was struck. Janette Badger, 24, of Wasilla was pulling into a parking spot next to Borega and struck her door. Estimated damage to both vehicles is approximately $2,000.

RUNAWAY

Jan. 30: A 44-year-old Wasilla woman reported that her 16-year-old daughter had run away. A subsequent investigation resulted in the juvenile being found, and she was transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for evaluation.

FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER

Jan. 30: Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. Investigation revealed the driver, Rodger Hargis, 33, of Wasilla had failed to register as a sex offender. Hargis was issued a summons for failing to register as a sex offender.

HARASSMENT

Jan. 28: Police were dispatched to an apartment on Blind Nick in reference to a harassment complaint by a 26-year-old Wasilla woman. The woman alleged that a 22-year-old neighbor has been harassing her for a long period of time. Contacted was made with the alleged perpetrator and results of that contact have been forwarded to the Palmer District Attorney’s office for review.

Jan. 31: Police responded to a residence on Success Drive for a report of harassment. A 36-year-old Wasilla woman alleged that she had received numerous threatening phone calls from a 36-year-old Wasilla man. The investigation continues.

ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD

Jan. 31: Police responded to the Wal-Mart parking lot for a report of two children left unattended in a running vehicle. During the investigation, police contacted Irina Ivanov, 22, of Wasilla who refused to comply with the officer’s request to identify herself. After pushing her way to the vehicle and a brief struggle, Ivanov was detained, identified, and charged with disorderly conduct and endangering the welfare of a child.

PROBATION VIOLATION

Feb. 1: Police observed a red Chevy Cavalier that appeared to be being driven by a person too young to legally drive. A subsequent investigation found probable cause to believe Ernest Lee Geisler, 48, of Wasilla was in violation of his felony probation conditions by consuming alcohol. A secondary investigation found probable cause to believe Geisler had misused his vehicle registration and he was arrested. Bail was set at $1,000, cash or corporate.

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

Jan. 25: Police responded to a report from a Valley Cab driver of an “unruly” intoxicated female passenger who was grabbing the steering wheel while he was driving and then refusing to get out of his cab. Officers arrived and made contact with Annie Macar, 56, of Anchorage. While an officer was attempting to give Macar a ride home, she reached through the partition between the front and rear seats of the vehicle and grabbed the officer’s arm causing the officer to temporarily lose control of the vehicle. As a result, Macar was placed under arrest for reckless endangerment and remanded at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility with a $10,000 cash or corporate bail.   

THEFT

Jan. 25: Police received a call from a 17-year-old girl from Wasilla regarding the theft of her purse from the parking lot of the Wasilla Sports Complex. The teen’s purse contained her Alaska DriversLicense, high school ID card, and an iPod.