Man charged with attempted murder

TALKEETNA -- A 28-year-old Talkeetna man was arrested Friday night on an attempted murder charge after allegedly attacking a 41-year-old Talkeetna woman.

Erik Barber was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $68,500 bail, Alaska State Troopers said.

Troopers from the Talkeetna office responded to a 911 call Friday at 11:23 p.m. to a residence where a party was being held. Trooper Lt. Rick Roberts said Barber threatened to kill the woman, then pulled her into the yard, straddled her, strangled her and began packing snow into her mouth. Others at the party rushed to pull him off.

"She probably owes her life to them," Roberts said.

He said the exact cause of the attack is not known. The woman, who Roberts described as "a friend" of Barber's, did not require medical attention.

"There was a gathering at the home and alcohol was involved," Roberts said.

Barber was placed under arrest following a struggle with officers, troopers said in a press release.

Charges against Barber include first-degree attempted murder, fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and three counts of fourth-degree assault.

He was arraigned Saturday in Palmer District Court. Barber's next court appearance will be a preliminary hearing on Friday, also scheduled for district court in Palmer.