FROM THE BLOTTER: Wasilla man arrested for choking roommate

WASILLA — Police attempting to mediate a civil issue wound up charging a man with domestic violence for allegedly choking his roommate.

According to a Wasilla Police Department press release, at 5:27 p.m. March 2 officers were called about the civil issue.

“Once there, officers discovered Alexx R. Parker, 18, of Wasilla choked one of his roommates during an altercation earlier in the day,” police report.

Parker was arrested for domestic violence assault, a charge for which a bail amount is not usually set at the time of arrest. Jail records Monday afternoon showed he’d been bailed out of the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

Charges pile up: eluding, assault, DUI

BIG LAKE — A Wasilla man is facing a laundry list of charges after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, ran from troopers, hit another car and fled on foot.

According to a trooper press statement, at 12:03 a.m. on Feb. 27, troopers tried to pull over a 1997 Dodge pickup at Big Lake Road at North Shore Drive. The driver, Joseph A. Diliberto, 20, of Wasilla, chose to run, troopers said.

But he didn’t get far before he hit a 1997 Ford Taurus. The other driver wasn’t hurt, troopers report. Diliberto was hurt, but apparently not that badly, if his subsequent actions are any indication. Troopers say he drove into a ditch and fled on foot.

“Diliberto was arrested after a lengthy track by (trooper police dog) Roelle into the woods behind Big Lake Tesoro,” troopers report.

Troopers took Diliberto to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries then booked into Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. At some point troopers found out that before he ran from them, Diliberto had fled a home where he’d allegedly assaulted his girlfriend.

The charges he faces are: felony drunken driving, felony eluding arrest, assault, domestic violence assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, reckless driving, failure to give notice of an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, underage drinking, minor driving after drinking and avoiding an ignition interlock device.

His bail amount was not set at the time of his arrest. Jail records Monday afternoon showed he was still incarcerated. Court records show he has a history of alcohol- and driving-related offenses during his short time as an adult and at least a dozen other, more minor traffic infractions.

She left the kitchen sink

PALMER — Police say they’re looking for a woman who took at least one too many things with her when she moved out of the Palmer Arms Apartments.

That one extra thing? A full-size electric range.

“She was one of the folks who was living there and when she moved out she took the range with her and she wasn’t supposed to,” said Detective Sgt. Kelly Turney with the Palmer Police Department.

He said he hasn’t filed charges yet and thus can’t release the woman’s name. He’s got a notice in her police file alerting officers that he’d like to talk to her. He’s pretty sure he’s got the right person.

“I know who the apartment belonged to and who moved all their stuff out,” he said. “It’s not rocket science.”

Protester cited twice

PALMER — Residents may have noticed Sidney I. Hill standing on the corner of the Glenn Highway and Evergreen Avenue over the past couple of weeks.

He’s the guy holding the sign stating, in no uncertain terms, his strong opposition to President Barack Obama.

For the most part, Palmer Police have been content to leave him alone. After all, they say, Hill, 52, of Palmer, has a first amendment right to express his opinions. But twice, they say, he’s stepped over the line.

“The main issues are a couple, one is that he’s approaching vehicles while they’re stopped at a stoplight which is hindering the flow of traffic on Evergreen,” said Palmer Police Detective Sgt. Kelly Turney. The other is that, “If someone is not agreeing with his politics, there have been occasions where there has been a colorful exchange between the two.”

Two such exchanges, Turney said, have led to harassment charges filed against Hill, first on Feb. 22 and again on March 2.

Asked if the situation might ever escalate to the point where police would have to arrest Hill, Turney said it would have to be a major escalation.

“It’s a misdemeanor not committed in our presence,” Turney said.

There are a few notable exceptions but, for the most part state law says, “We can’t arrest for misdemeanors not committed in our presence.”

—Andrew Wellner