Campground 'threat' ends in arrest

HOUSTON -- A 50-year-old Houston man was arrested Saturday night after he allegedly brandished a rifle in the Little Susitna Campground and threatened to kill some fellow campers across the campground road from him, according to Alaska State Troopers.

A couple of campers told Trooper James Kimura that Kenneth T. Cirillo had been yelling and cursing at them and their party all night.

Camper Alexander Schneller told troopers that it was about 10 p.m. when Cirillo began threatening to kill them, taking a rifle from his all-terrain-vehicle's scabbard and pointing it in the direction of the campers.

Michael Lomonaco was also camping in the same site, and told Kimura that he took the rifle away after Cirillo put it back in his scabbard.

When Kimura first arrived at the scene, he said he found Cirillo standing in the campground road. Cirillo reportedly told Kimura that he was just trying to get some sleep when someone took his rifle.

Cirillo also reportedly told Kimura he was going to "kill those 48ers," referring to people camping across from him. Cirillo also reportedly told Kimura that he would kill the campers if they didn't give him his gun back.

Kimura took away a Marlin .45-70-caliber stainless-steel rifle and arrested Cirillo on two counts of third-degree assault and one count of misconduct involving a weapon.

An alcohol test revealed that Cirillo had a .358-percent breath-alcohol content, a level that is more than four times the legal driving limit. Cirillo was first taken to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, but then transferred to the Anchorage Jail to undergo alcohol detoxification because the Mat-Su jail facility does not have a 24-hour detoxification program. Cirillo is currently at the Anchorage Jail with bail set at $5,000.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.