POLICE BEAT: Sept. 27, 2017

Editor’s note: The Frontiersman Police Beat contains listings taken directly — and with limited editing — from state and local law enforcement agency online reports. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Wasilla Police Department

On September 15, 2017 at 0046 hours, Wasilla Police responded to Walmart after receiving a report of a theft. An investigation revealed a female had stolen a wallet which had been misplaced on the counter at one of the registers. The case remains under investigation.

On September 15, 2017 at 0949 hours, Wasilla Police responded to the Carrs parking lot on E. Parks Highway after receiving a report of a hit and run collision. An investigation revealed a vehicle driven by a juvenile female ran into another vehicle in the parking lot causing heavy front-end damage. The passenger in the vehicle that caused the collision switched places with the driver and left the scene. Officers made contact with the passenger who was identified as Sheila Palesano, who reported the driver was actually her daughter. The juvenile has been charged with leaving the scene of a collision and Palesano has been charged with hindering prosecution through the District Attorney's office.

On September 15, 2017 at 1707 hours, Wasilla Police made contact with Carl Adams, Jr. after a welfare check had been requested regarding a male slumped over on the sidewalk near Nelson Avenue and Lucus Road. A record check revealed an outstanding warrant for Adams on an original charge of criminal trespass in the second degree. Adams was transported to the Mat-Su Pretrial facility.

On September 16, 2017 at 2330 hours, Wasilla Police conducted a traffic stop at E. Palmer Wasilla Highway and N. Hyer Road after receiving a REDDI report on the vehicle. The driver was identified as Kurt Larsen who was found to be driving under the influence. Larsen was arrested for DUI and transported to the MatSu Pretrial facility.

On September 16, 2017 at 1230 hours, Wasilla Police took possession of a purse and wallet which had been found. The items were placed into safekeeping and attempts were made to contact the owner.

On September 17, 2017 at 1953 hours, Wasilla Police responded to Walmart after receiving a report of two shoplifters which had been apprehended. The shoplifters were both juveniles and both were charged with theft in the fourth degree through Juvenile Intake.

On September 18, 2017 at 0554 hours, Wasilla Police came upon a suspicious vehicle in the area of S. Vale Avenue and Beverly Hills Drive. A check of the plate came back to a stolen vehicle matching this vehicle's description. Officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which fled from the scene. Officers followed the vehicle and recovered it at a residence on S. Bettina Drive. The case remains under investigation.

On September 18, 2017 at 1458 hours, Wasilla Police took a report of a runaway juvenile. The juvenile was located and returned to her foster parents later that day without any issues.

On September 18, 2017 at 2003 hours, Wasilla Police responded to a REDDI report of an intoxicated driver at the Tesoro gas station at the intersection of the Parks Highway and Main Street. The driver was identified as Scott Gundlach who was subsequently arrested for DUI and transported to the Mat-Su Pretrial facility.

On September 19, 2017 at 1032 hours, Wasilla Police received a report of a theft. The complainant stated she was at the DMV Express on E. Parks Highway when someone grabbed her iPhone from the counter. The case is currently under investigation.

On September 19, 2017 at 1842 hours, Wasilla Police received a report of a theft. The complainant reported a cell phone had been stolen from Wasilla Middle School's library. The case is currently under investigation.

On September 20, 2017 at 1206 hours, Wasilla Police made contact with John Knetter in the parking lot of Home Depot after receiving a report of a male slumped over behind the wheel of a vehicle which was parked in their loading zone. A record check revealed an outstanding felony warrant for Knetter's arrest which had been issued by Anchorage AST for a probation violation on an original charge of DUI and attempted misconduct involving a controlled substance in

the second degree. Knetter was arrested and transported to the Mat-Su Pretrial facility.

On September 20, 2017 at 1339 hours, Wasilla Police responded to the intersection of N. Lucus Road and W. Nelson Avenue for a reported hit and run collision. A motor home driven by Joshua Payton struck another vehicle and left the scene, but was later located on foot. Payton was charged with driving while his license was suspended, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and no proof of liability insurance.

On September 20, 2017 at 1112 hours, Wasilla Police took a report of the theft of a purse from the Tesoro gas station at the intersection of the Parks Highway and Main Street. An investigation revealed two attempts had been made to use credit cards that were in the wallet, but those transactions were denied. The case is currently under investigation.

On September 20, 2017 at 1839 hours, Wasilla Police received a report of a t heft. The complainant stated her purse had been stolen from her place of work at Regis hair salon on E. Parks Highway. An investigation revealed her debit card had already been used and the case is currently under investigation.

On September 21, 2017 at 1839 hours, Wasilla Police made contact with Richard Campos II while investigating suspicious activity near Home Depot. During the contact officers discovered Campos had Suboxone on his person which had not been prescribed to him. Campos was subsequently issued a criminal citation for misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fourth degree.

Alaska State Troopers

Location: Wasilla

Type: DV Assault IV

Dispatch Text:

On 9/25/2017, approximately 1845 hours, Alaska State Troopers responded to G&G Foodmart in Wasilla for a reported assault in progress. Investigation revealed 45 year old Garrett J. Mahan of Soldotna assaulted a family member causing minor injury to that family member. Mahan was arrested at the scene without incident and remanded to MSPT where he was held without bail.

Location: Wasilla

Type: Warrant Arrest X3

Dispatch Text:

On 09/25/2017 at approximately 2310 hours, Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Wasilla after employees pointed a trooper to a shoplifting suspect that just fled the store. Justin Hundley, age 30 of Wasilla, was contacted as the suspect. Wasilla P.D. responded and cited Hundley for theft and trespassing after speaking with store employees. Further investigation reveals Hundley had three outstanding warrants for Failure to Appear for Theft 4th Degree X 2 and providing False Information totaling $2,150 in warrants. Hundley was arrested and transported to Mat Su Pre-trial.

Location: Willow

Type: Reckless Driving, Fail to Stop at the Direction of a Police Officer, and No Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance, False Info, NVOL

Dispatch Text UPDATE:

On 09/25/17 DOC advised AST that a check of "Watkins" fingerprints obtained on 09/23/17 revealed he was actually John Smith, age 53 of Willow. AST verified through previous booking and DMV photos that "Watkins" was Smith. At 2100 hours, AST contacted Smith at his residence and arrested him with the additional charges of Making a False Report and No Valid Operators License. Smith was originally released O/R on 09/23/17 however, he was again remanded into custody with the new charges and held on $750 bail. Investigation continues regarding the ID Smith originally provided to AST. Original Dispatch Text:

On 09/23/2017 at approximately 2016 hours, Alaska State Troopers attempted a traffic stop on a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero near mile 69.5 of the Parks Highway in Willow for reckless driving. The driver of the vehicle, Christopher Daniel Watkins, age 45 of Willow, failed to stop and a short traffic purist ensued. Watkins was contacted at his residence where he was placed under arrest for Reckless Driving, Fail to Stop at the Direction of a Police Officer, and No Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance. Watkins was transported and remanded at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer.

Location: Trapper Creek

Type: Burglary 1st; Theft 2 x 3

Dispatch Text:

On 09/19/17 and 09/24/17, AST received reports of a burglary and theft from a residence and storage shed on Petersville Road in Trapper Creek. Investigation revealed on 2 separate occasions, the residence was burglarized with 2 firearms and household goods stolen. AST is requesting anyone with information about the incidents to contact AST at 352-5401 or Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.

Location: Willow

Type: MVC Damage

Dispatch Text:

On 09/25/17 at 1822 hours, AST responded to mile 40 of Willow-Fishhook Road in Willow for the report of a multi-vehicle collision. No injuries were reported by the drivers identified as Brian Bosch age 34 of Wasilla, Glenn Lum age 67 of Hawaii, and Tristan Vandelac age 21 of Wasilla. All parties reported wearing their seatbelts.

Location: Wasilla

Type: Motor Vehicle Collision, DUI

Dispatch Text:

On 09/23/2017 at approximately 0201 hours, Alaska State Troopers responded to a single vehicle collision on Mulchatna Drive in Wasilla. An investigation revealed the driver, Lucian Michael Loebs, age 38 of Wasilla was operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Loebs was placed under arrest for DUI, transported and remanded to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer.

Location: Willow

Type: Warrant Arrest

Dispatch Text:

On 09/23/2017 at approximately 1743 hours, Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence on Dellgrati Circle in Willow in order to contact Dylan Lewis Currier, age 18 of Willow, because he had a felony warrant for his arrest for Sexual Assault in the 2nd Degree, with a bail set at $25,000.00. Currier was contacted, arrest, transported and remanded to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer.

Location: Willow

Type: Reckless Driving, Fail to Stop at the Direction of a Police Officer, and No Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance.

Dispatch Text:

On 09/23/2017 at approximately 2016 hours, Alaska State Troopers attempted a traffic stop on a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero near mile 69.5 of the Parks Highway in Willow for reckless driving. The driver of the vehicle, Christopher Daniel Watkins, age 45 of Willow, failed to stop and a short traffic purist ensued. Watkins was contacted at his residence where he was placed under arrest for Reckless Driving, Fail to Stop at the Direction of a Police Officer, and No Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance. Watkins was transported and remanded at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer.

Location: Palmer

Type: Assault 4 DV

Dispatch Text:

On 9/24/17 at approximately 0059 hours, Alaska State Troopers received a report of a disturbance at a residence on N Creekwood Park Cir in Palmer. Investigation revealed Tammie Reilly assaulted someone in the residence. She was arrested, transported and remanded to MSPT where her bail was set at no bail.