From the blotter: ‘Kids at Play’ sign sparks gunfire in Willow

MAT-SU — An apparent argument over a “Kids at Play” sign led one Willow resident to shoot at another Willow resident twice, Alaska State Troopers report.

According to a trooper affidavit, the first argument that led to gunfire occurred on Sept. 13. A resident called to complain that he’d been arguing at his house off Caswell Lakes Road with Siegfried Pedersen, 54, of Willow, and that Pedersen had fired a handgun at him.

“Investigation revealed that Pedersen discharged the handgun at the complainant following what was described as an issue over a sign being erected asking residents to slow down for children at play,” the affidavit states.

Troopers say Pedersen later returned and shot out one of the windows on the complainant’s house. So, they got a warrant for Pedersen’s arrest.

On Friday, troopers, Wasilla police, Palmer police, Anchorage police and the troopers’ SERT team — akin to what other departments call a SWAT team — went to serve that warrant and spotted Pedersen driving near his home on Caswell Lakes Road.

Troopers say Pedersen led them on a short pursuit that ended when patrol vehicles boxed him in.

He was jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $25,000 bail. Jail records Monday evening shwed he was still there.

He will need to find a third-party to watch over him before he can be released.

Houston man nabbed for stealing lumber

WASILLA — Alaska State Troopers say the lumber loaded up on a trailer causing a traffic hazard was stolen.

Troopers pulled over Corey Heim, 25, of Houston, at 6:55 p.m. on Sept. 15.

“Heim’s trailer, which was loaded down with lumber, was called in as a traffic hazard on the Parks Highway near Johnson Road,” according to the press release.

Troopers say they found out that Heim had stolen the lumber from a nearby construction site.

Heim was jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $5,000 bail. Jail records show he has since bailed out.

Overdue angler safe,

but jailed

WILLOW — A boater overdue on the Susitna River over the weekend turned out to be fine but on the wrong side of the law, according to an Alaska State Trooper press release.

According to the press release, at 11:40 a.m. Friday, troopers got word that a boat was overdue. Phil Haws, 63, and Gary Kincaid, 36, both of Anchorage, had reportedly gone trout fishing on the Yetna River and were to return Friday.

Troopers went up to Deshka Landing and found Kincaid’s vehicle. At 2:40 p.m., Kincaid’s boat showed up at the landing.

“Kincaid reported that they had steering problems, but had planned to spend the night,” troopers report.

Records checks showed Kincaid had a warrant out for his arrest for failing to report to serve prison time.

He was jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility without bail.

Jail records show he has since been released.