Man charged with six felonies for allegedly siphoning airplane fuel

PALMER — Michael Paul Scott, 38, of Palmer, was arrested on six counts of criminal mischief/tampering with aircraft after an incident on Dec. 24.

Alaska State Troopers responded to the Butte Airstrip off the Old Glenn after receiving a report of someone stealing fuel from airplanes. By the time troopers arrive, the suspect had left the scene, but the witness who called it in was able to take a photo of the departing vehicle that included the license plate number.

The following day, the same trooper spotted the truck and made a traffic stop, whereupon the driver, Scott, admitted to stealing five gallons of plane fuel by siphoning them from parked airplanes. Those five gallons were in the back of Scott’s truck, police say.

A police search revealed ammunition for .45 caliber handgun, which, as a felon, Scott was not permitted to have. Scott did not consent to a search and police impounded the truck.

Scott was charged with six felony counts of criminal mischief.

“Taking fuel from an aircraft without the knowledge of the pilot can cause an airplane’s engine to stop running while in flight,” the trooper wrote in his report. “Additionally, Scott admitted to sticking a siphon hose into two of the airplanes, which can lead to an airplane crash through loss of engine power.”

Scott will have a preliminary hearing Jan. 5 at 10 a.m.