Alaska State Trooper arrested on multiple counts of domestic violence assault

WASILLA — Garrett Willis, a 40-year-old Wasilla resident and Alaska State Trooper based in Anchorage, was recently arrested with multiple charges of domestic violence.

Willis was arrested after an investigation led by the Alaska State Troopers Alaska Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Wasilla Police Department and Kenai Police Department, according to a recent press release.

Willis is an Alaska State Trooper investigator based in Anchorage. He’s worked with the Troopers since 2003 and most recently worked on an Alaska-based federal task force in Anchorage.

AST released information regarding his arrest Monday, Nov. 15 to illustrate their efforts of public transparency.

“We rightly hold our Troopers to extremely high standards and will aggressively investigate any alleged criminal behavior and hold that employee accountable for their actions. Today is an unfortunate day for the Alaska State Troopers. Still, I hope that Alaskans will continue to place their trust in the hundreds of exemplary Troopers that tirelessly work each day to ensure public safety,” AST Director Colonel Bryan Barlow stated in the press release.

According to the press release, Troopers were made aware of an alleged instance of domestic violence in the Wasilla area perpetrated by Willis on Nov. 2. WPD opened a thorough investigation into the incident with accompanying authorities ultimately revealing additional instances of domestic violence that were identified in 2018, 2019, and 2020 occurring in the Mat-Su Valley and Kenai against two additional victims.

AST and the Kenai Police Department investigated the DV instances and after a thorough investigation, the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions independently reviewed the case. Willis was subsequently arrested on Nov. 15 without incident and charged with Assault II DV, three charges of Assault III DV, and three charges of Assault IV DV.

Since the investigation is still ongoing, additional charges may be filed. According to the press release, Willis’ alleged offenses did not occur while he was on duty.

“Domestic violence plagues our state, and unfortunately, often goes unnoticed in the shadows of our communities. I would like to acknowledge these victims for coming forward and making these actions known to law enforcement so that we can hold the perpetrator accountable.”

Anyone who believes they have additional information about this investigation or believes they or someone they know may have been a victim of Willis is encouraged to contact the Alaska State Troopers at 907-352-5401.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com