Police Beat: March 28, 2008

WASILLA POLICE DEPARTMENT

MVC

March 14: Police responded to a two-vehicle collision at Bogard Road and Crusey Street. Investigation revealed Barry Lowe, 56, of Wasilla was attempting to turn onto the road that goes into Wasilla High School when he failed to yield to Maryjo Towne, 68, of Wasilla. Lowe was issued a citation for failing to exercise due care to avoid a

collision.

March 16: Police responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries, at the intersection of the Parks Highway and Alpine Street. Janet Punyko, 46, of Eagle River attempted to turn left onto the Parks Highway from Alpine Street when her vehicle was hit by a westbound vehicle, driven by Jason Davis, 26, of Anchorage. Both vehicles suffered significant damage and were towed from the scene. A 34-year-old female passenger from Davis’ vehicle was transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center by ambulance with what appeared to be minor injuries. Punyko was issued a citation for failing to yield.

March 19: Police were dispatched to a two-car motor vehicle collision at Lucille Street and Vincent Circle. Cecil Mahler, 31, of Wasilla was backing out of a driveway onto Lucille Street and struck a vehicle driven by Johnnie Berry, 57, of Palmer. Mahler was cited for failing to yield when entering a roadway from a non-roadway.

DUI

March 14: Police conducted a traffic stop on a green Chevrolet pickup for driving over a curb and crossing the fog line. A subsequent investigation found probable cause to believe Nancy Kapamarek was driving under the influence and she was arrested on that charge. Kapamarek was transported to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility where bail was set at $2,500 cash or corporate plus a third-party custodian.

March 15: Police received a report of a reckless driver. A vehicle matching the description was located on Railroad Avenue driving over the yellow line and swerving. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was identified as Rose Walker, 34, of Wasilla, who exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol. After failing a series of field sobriety tests, Walker was arrested for driving under the influence. Walker provided a breath sample to determine her breath alcohol concentration. Walker was held in lieu of $3,000 bail and ordered not to be released until sober. The charge of driving under the influence was filed against Walker through the District Attorney’s office.

March 16: Jason Makris, 24, of Wasilla was contacted outside the Tailgaters bar related to a disturbance. Makris was obviously impaired by alcohol and told police officers he was too impaired to drive and asked for a taxi cab to pick him and his friends up from the bar.  A taxi cab was summoned to the bar. Police left the scene and within one minute Makris was attempting to drive away from the bar. Makris was placed under arrest for driving under the influence after failing a series of field sobriety tests. The friends enjoyed the cab.

DWLCSR

March 15: Police stopped Kyle C. Hatfield, 20, of Wasilla for a traffic violation. Hatfield was issued a summons to appear in court for the charge of driving while his license was allegedly suspended.

March 16: Police stopped Angela C. Crabtree, 22, of Wasilla for driving with an allegedly suspended license at McDonald’s in Wasilla. Crabtree was issued a summons to appear in court.

WARRANT ARREST

March 16: Police conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. Passenger Justin Jacobs, 25, of Big Lake was arrested for an outstanding warrant for failure to serve time on the original charges of driving under the influence and failure to stop at the direction of police officer II. Jacobs was transported to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility without bail.

March 17: Police arrested Russell L. Metcalf, 55, of Wasilla at a residence on Lake Lucille Drive in Wasilla for a $1,000 outstanding warrant for failure to appear with original charge of driving under the influence. Metcalf was transported to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

March 18: Donnay Box, 20, of Wasilla came to the police department and turned herself in on a $500 arrest warrant. The warrant was for violating a domestic violence protective order. Box was transported to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility and remanded.

March 18: A Wasilla Code Compliance Officer came into contact with a female driver who parked her vehicle in a handicap parking spot. A records check revealed Desirae Hoke, 19, of Wasilla had an outstanding $250 warrant for failing to complete conditions of probation. Police arrived on scene and took Hoke into custody for the warrant. Hoke was transported to the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility where she was remanded on the warrant.

March 18: Police contacted Glen Baldwin, 26, of Wasilla at Fred Meyer. An investigation revealed Baldwin was wanted on two warrants, the first for driving without a valid operator license with a bail set at $1,000, and the second for failing to appear, with bail set at $5,000. Baldwin was remanded at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

THEFT / SHOPLIFTING

March 18: Police responded to Pacific Coast Espresso for a report of a stolen till bag. The complainant stated when she got in her truck around 5 a.m., she noticed the blue till bag that had been left in the middle console of the truck was missing. The investigation continues.

March 18: Police were dispatched to Fred Meyer for a shoplifter in custody. Steven R. M. Piper, 18, of Palmer was arrested by loss prevention employees for allegedly stealing $119.97 worth of merchandise. Piper was remanded at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility where bail was set at $3,500. Charging documents were forwarded to the District Attorney’s office.

MICS

March 19: Police conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Mike Trudeau, 20, of Wasilla. A subsequent investigation revealed Trudeau possessed cocaine and Oxycontin. A charge of misconduct involving a controlled substance IV is being forwarded to the District Attorney’s office.

ALASKA STATE TROOPERS

DWLCSR

March 17, 9:25 p.m.: Troopers stopped a green 1997 Mercury Sable station wagon near Mile 11 Old Glenn Highway in Butte for an equipment violation. Breck D. Abell, 48, of Anchorage was driving the vehicle while his license was revoked. Abell was arrested at the scene and then transported to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility where he was held on $2,500 cash bail with a court-appointed, third-party custodian required.

March 21, 12:53 a.m.: The South Central DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near Mile 6.5 of Knik-Goose Bay Road in Wasilla for a moving violation. Nicholas T. Philemonoff, 29, of Wasilla was found to be operating the vehicle on a suspended driver license. Philemonoff was issued a summons to appear in the Palmer Court and released at the scene.

March 21, 1:20 a.m.: The South-Central DUI Enforcement Team contacted Rogers Luvell Brown, 45, of Wasilla after the vehicle he was operating was stopped on Danna Avenue near Wasilla-Fishhook Road in Wasilla for an equipment violation. Brown was issued a summons to appear in the Palmer Court for driving while his license is revoked.

MVC

March 18, 9 a.m.: Troopers responded to a motor vehicle collision at Vine Road and the Parks Highway. Amber Helmann, 27, of Wasilla was driving her 2001 Plymouth south on the Parks Highway when a 2004 Volkswagen driven by Jessie Stetson, 26, of Wasilla turned north onto the Parks from Vine. Stetson turned into Helmann’s path of travel and their vehicles collided. Stetson was issued a citation for failure to yield the right of way. All parties involved were wearing seatbelts and no injuries were reported. Damage was estimated to be $3,000.  

March 18, 2:35 a.m.: Troopers received a report of a single vehicle rollover on Hollywood Road in Wasilla.  Levi Dickinson, 19, of Wasilla was driving a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner westbound on Hollywood Road when he lost control of the vehicle on a patch of ice and went off the road causing it to roll. Both Dickinson and his passenger sustained injuries and were transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center by EMS. Both occupants reported wearing seatbelts. The vehicle is estimated to be a total loss. No citations were given.  

March 18, 9:53 a.m.: Troopers responded to a motor vehicle collision near Mile 20 of Point Mackenzie Road. Justin Bulawa, 19, of Wasilla was northbound on Point Mackenzie Road, when a moose ran out from the side of the road, striking the front of his 2005 Ford pickup truck. Bulawa and his passenger were wearing their seatbelts at the time of collision and suffered no injuries. The moose was given to a charity. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.  

March 19, 9:15 p.m.: Troopers responded to the Parks Highway near Hyer Road for the report of a motor vehicle collision. Kiel Sutton, 25, of Anchorage was driving a 2008 Peterbilt tractor trailer northbound on the Parks Highway when the cargo (scaffold material) he was transporting became unsecured and fell onto the roadway while he was driving. John Pound Jr., 20, of Sutton was driving his 1999 Chevy pickup northbound on the Parks Highway when he was unable to avoid the scaffold material and ran over it on the Parks Highway near Hyer. Pound and two of his passengers reported no injuries and wearing their seat belts. Pound’s vehicle sustained minor damage. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officers responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation. Sutton was issued a citation for improper loading of cargo. Sutton was placed out of service for 24 hours for false logbook. The Peterbilt tractor trailer was placed out of service for no brake lights on the rear trailer.    

March 20, 9:20 p.m.: Troopers responded to a two-vehicle collision on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway near Cottle Loop in Wasilla. Kathryn Goolsby, 25, of Anchorage was driving a 1981 Volvo sedan eastbound on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway when she slowed to turn left onto a side street. Leonard Revet, 75, of Wasilla was passing the Volvo on the right when the Volvo turned back into the lane of travel, striking Revet’s 2002 Subaru stationwagon. No injuries were reported. Both vehicles suffered minor damage estimated at $2,000 for each vehicle. Seatbelts were worn by all occupants. Goolsby was issued a citation for failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision.

March 22, 4:25 a.m.: Troopers responded to a report of a single vehicle rollover at Mile 102 of the Glenn Highway. Marcus Smith, 56, of Ninilchik was southbound on the Glenn Highway in a 2003 Dodge pickup when he lost control and drove through approximately 80 feet of guardrail. Smith’s vehicle left the east side of the roadway and rolled over twice before coming to rest approximately 100 feet away. Medics from Victory, Palmer and Sutton responded and stabilized Smith before he was airlifted by helicopter to Providence in Anchorage where he is being treated for back and neck injuries. Smith reported wearing his seat belt at the time of the collision. Smith was towing a trailer hauling two boats. Smith’s vehicle, the boats and the trailer are estimated to be a total loss.

March 22, 1:53 p.m.: Troopers responded to the intersection of Seward Meridian Parkway and Bogard Road in Wasilla for the report of a single motor vehicle collision. Just prior to the collision, a REDDI report was reported on the same vehicle. Investigation revealed Charles P. Sprague, 25, of Wasilla was traveling north on Seward Meridian Parkway in a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner when he drove through the intersection at Bogard Road and collided with a power pole. Sprague reported wearing his seatbelt and was transported by ambulance to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for evaluation. Sprague’s 4-Runner was considered totaled and DOT was contacted regarding the damage to the power pole. Sprague was under house arrest for the original charge of reckless driving and driving while his license is revoked and had been specifically ordered not to drive. Upon discharge from the hospital, Sprague was arrested, transported and remanded to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility for reckless driving, driving while his license is revoked and violation of conditions of release. Sprague’s bail was set at $2,000 and this case is still under investigation. Any person with information regarding this case is asked to contact troopers at 745-2131 or Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.     

THEFT

March 18, 7:40 p.m.: Troopers received a call from a 33-yer-old Wasilla man who reported a vehicle theft on Church Road in Wasilla. Investigation revealed that an unknown person(s) removed the man’s 2007 Honda 420ES Rancher between Nov. 22 and March 18. If you have any information about this or any other crime please contact the troopers or Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.

March 22, 3:37 p.m.: Troopers received a report of a shoplifter at Steve’s Food Boy in Big Lake. Perrin Pollard, 18, of Wasilla was allegedly caught shoplifting some food items from Steve’s Food Boy and placed under citizen’s arrest. Pollard was also found to have an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear with an original charge of assault IV. Pollard was transported to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility where he was held on $1,750 bail.  

March 23, 10:41 a.m.: Troopers received a report of a theft from the Mat-Su Resort in Wasilla. Two Alaska license plates were taken from a vehicle that was parked at the Mat-Su Resort during the night of March 22. This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the troopers at 373-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.