Citizen tips lead to warrant arrests

PALMER -- A list of current or former Valley residents with outstanding felony warrants, published in an Alaska State Trooper release in the July 13 Frontiersman, already has produced two arrests and leads on other cases.

Troopers acted on information from the public to arrest Amanda Ross on Wednesday, trooper Rick Pyles said. She was sought on a $1,000 warrant for fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Calls from citizens also led troopers to Elaina Routt, who was taken into custody Thursday at a Wasilla residence on three warrants for failure to appear for court. The original charges were driving while license suspended, driving while intoxicated and refusing to take a breath test, and second-degree forgery. Routt was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $6,000 bail.

Tips on the whereabouts of two others on the list have been received, Pyles said, but the suspects are out of state and their charges are not extradictable. Primarily, troopers will pursue extradition in felony or domestic-violence cases, or in child custody issues.

"Basically it's crimes against a person," said Pyles, the officer in charge of Judicial Services in Mat-Su.

Some of the felony warrants among the 170 names on the published list date back several years. The list only contained felonies involving Palmer courthouse cases resulting from arrests by troopers, Palmer Police Department or Wasilla Police Department.

Pyles said the oldest case of all is from 1985, in which Richard Michaels is wanted for second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Michaels, who also goes by the name Richard Skrepich, was last contacted in Arizona in 1996, Pyles said.

Next oldest is a $10,000 warrant issued in 1987 for William Lacey for second-degree assault. Troopers haven't had contact with Lacey since the original charge was made.

A 1988 warrant is outstanding for Robert Lightle. He's sought for third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, and the bond is $5,000 cash only.

Two warrants date back to 1989. William T. Keene, 32, is wanted for first-degree burglary on a $5,000 cash warrant and Raymond G. McKee is sought for first-degree sexual abuse of a minor with a $50,000 warrant. Keene was in California at last contact, Pyles said, and McKee most recently surfaced in New Mexico in 1991.

In most cases, people with outstanding warrants trip themselves up through motor vehicle infractions, Pyles said. Police may stop them for speeding, lack of a tail light or some other minor infraction and discover the warrants during a computer check.

Troopers routinely enter the names of drivers who are stopped into the Alaska Public Safety Information Network. Those without identification and those with significant criminal history in Alaska also undergo a computer check through the National Crime Information Center.

Pyles estimated that from three to 10 of every 100 traffic stops will yield outstanding warrants.

He said experienced officers can often tell from suspects' body language and facial expressions that a thorough background check would be wise.

"You learn how people act about certain things," he said.