WASILLA POLICE DEPARTMENT

THEFT / SHOPLIFTING

Feb. 6: A 25-year-old Wasilla resident reported someone had stolen his camera, valued at about $200, from his residence off Yenlo Street. Feb. 8: Police responded to Carrs for a 16-year-old male in custody for shoplifting. Investigation revealed the juvenile allegedly left the store without paying for $29.03 worth of merchandise. The teen was released to a parent.  

MVC

Feb. 6: Police responded to the intersection of Seward Meridian Parkway and Fireweed for a two-vehicle collision. A vehicle driven by Richard Best, 38, of Palmer allegedly failed to yield while turning left to a vehicle driven by Leslie More, 42, of Wasilla.

Feb. 7: Police responded to a two-car collision on the Parks Highway at Church Road. Police arrived and determined Sonya Freeman, 23, of Wasilla was trying to make a U-turn in the safety corridor just west of Church Road on the Parks Highway. As Freeman was making the turn she struck a vehicle driving eastbound on the Parks Highway. Freeman was cited for negligent driving, expired registration and failure to show proof of insurance. A check of the Alaska Public Safety Information Network records showed Freeman’s passenger, Milysha Weaver, 41, of Wasilla had two outstanding warrants for her arrest. Both warrants were for failing to appear on charges of driving while license was suspended. Weaver was transported to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

Feb. 8: Anderson Hunter, 49, of Wasilla reported to police he had been involved in a traffic collision. Hunter was driving his Chevrolet pickup northbound on the Parks Highway when he failed to stop for a red light at the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. The front of the pickup struck the passenger side of a Dodge pickup turning left from the southbound lane of the Parks Highway. The Dodge pickup was driven by Ronald Cravens, 36, of Wasilla. There were no injuries reported, but there was damage to both vehicles. Hunter was cited for failing to exercise due care to avoid a collision. Both vehicles were driven from the scene.

Feb. 8: Police responded to the Parks Highway near Kenai Supply Drive for a report of a two-vehicle collision. Andrew Akulaw, 24, of Anchorage, stated he was eastbound on the Parks Highway and hadn’t noticed traffic had slowed and come to a stop prior to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway intersection. Alulaw said he was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the vehicle in front of him, which was operated by Bridget Knutson, 40, of Wasilla. No injuries were reported.

Feb. 8: Police responded to a pair of vehicle collision at Seward Meridian Parkway and Fireweed Drive. A Wasilla 17-year-old was driving a four-door sedan and attempted to turn into a business when she struck a two-door sedan driven by Joshua Moffet, 19, of Wasilla. The 17-year-old was issued a citation for failing to use due care to avoid a collision. Moffet was issued a citation for an expired registration and no proof of insurance.  

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

Feb. 6: Police responded to a residence on Alma Drive for a report of a disturbance. Both John Simon, 40, of Anchorage and Eugene Hunter, 36, of Anchorage were remanded to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on charges of disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $250 for each.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

Feb. 8: Police responded to a residence on West Melanie Avenue for a report of criminal mischief. Investigation showed that sometime between Jan. 25 and Feb. 8, the front door of the residence had been forced opened. Damage was estimated at $350 to $450. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the police department at 352-5401 or Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.

DUI

Feb. 9: A vehicle was reported to be stuck in a ditch near Mile 1 of Knik-Goose Bay Road. Police responded and found Heather Mercer, 28, of Wasilla in the driver’s seat. There was no damage and no injuries were reported. After failing a series of field sobriety tests, Mercer was arrested for driving under the influence. After being read the Implied “Consent Warning,” Mercer refused to submit to a chemical test of her breath. Mercer then exhibited signs of passing out and did not respond verbally. She was subsequently transported by to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, where she was examined and cleared to be booked into jail. Mercer was held at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail. Charges of driving under the influence and refusal of a chemical test were filed against Mercer through the District Attorney’s Office.

Feb. 10: Police received a phone call from an employee at Burger King stating a man had gone through the drive-thru who was possibly intoxicated. Aaron Benjamin, 48, of Wasilla was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Benjamin was remanded to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, were bail was set at $500 cash.   

WARRANT ARREST

Feb. 9: Police responded to Challenge Circle for a report of an occupied suspicious vehicle parked at the end of the circle. Officers made contact with three individuals in the vehicle. A check of Alaska Public Safety Information Network records revealed that one of the occupants, Kloiah Wayland, 19, of Wasilla, had a warrant out for her arrest. Wayland was placed under arrest on the $500 warrant for failing to appear in court and transported to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

ALASKA STATE TROOPERS

ASSAULT

Feb. 7, 10:20 p.m.: Troopers responded to a Palmer residence for a reported domestic disturbance. Harry Wrase, 40, of Palmer allegedly assaulted a family member earlier in the night. Wrase was arrested for assault IV and criminal mischief IV and booked into the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

PALMER POLICE DEPARTMENT

HIT AND RUN

Feb. 4: Police investigated a hit-and-run accident in the parking lot of the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. A red vehicle hit a parked Ford pickup truck, causing extensive damage to the Ford estimated to be about $1,500. Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the police department at 745-4811.

THEFT

Feb. 4: Samantha Hartmen, 18, of Palmer reported a Play-Station 2 had been stolen from her room at a local motel. The value of the stolen property is estimated at $200. A suspect has been identified in this case and the investigation is ongoing.

Feb. 5: Police arrested Deana L. Biesemeyer, 29, of Palmer for theft after she left Fred Meyer’s allegedly without paying for $247.84 in merchandise. She was contacted by the store’s loss prevention personnel in the parking lot. Biesemeyer was remanded to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility with bail set at $250.

Feb. 5: A 25-year-old Palmer man reported the theft of a Smith and Wesson .22 caliber revolver from his vehicle sometime in the last month.

WARRANT ARREST

Feb. 4: James Griffith, 34, of Wasilla turned himself in on a warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of driving under the influence and misconduct involving weapons. He was remanded to serve 10 days.

VANDALISM

Feb. 4: A 35-year-old Palmer woman reported her house was egged early on Feb. 3.

Feb. 8: A 44-year-old Palmer man reported that on Feb. 2, someone punctured the sidewall of a tire on his vehicle while it was parked at Palmer High School for a basketball game.

ASSAULT

Feb. 5: Officers were dispatched to a location in Palmer for a report of a disturbance. Investigation led to the arrest of a 78-year-old female from Palmer for assault III, a crime of domestic violence. The female was remanded to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on no bail.

Feb. 8: Police received a report of a domestic violence assault at a local motel. The female victim, 40, of Palmer alleged her husband, 56, of Palmer had punched her twice. Officers assisted the victim in locating a safe place to stay and provided her with transportation. The officers where unable to locate the suspect, who is being charged with assault IV, domestic