Armed, combative man arrested along Parks Highway

WASILLA — Traffic on the Parks Highway near Church Road was stopped for a short time Monday afternoon while Alaska State Troopers and Wasilla police officers dealt with an armed and combative man.

Trooper spokesperson Megan Peters said Wasilla police took the man, who wasn’t immediately identified, into custody around 3:20 p.m., Monday. Wasilla police declined to comment further as of press time.

Troopers say the incident began in the parking lot in front of Alaska Industrial Hardware and Speedy Glass.

When police instructed the man to put down his weapon, he did not comply. Peters said officers next tried various means to resolve the incident peacefully. Passersby say those peaceful solutions included firing rubber bullets at the man as he continued to walk down the middle of the Parks Highway.

Witnesses on scene described the man as an older white male with a white beard. The man’s name was not available by press time. Witnesses said about 10 officers were on-scene walking down the middle of the road, weapons pointed at the armed man, who was carrying a large knife.

—Heather A. Resz