Robbery suspect nabbed

HOUSTON — One suspect in the armed robbery of several young trick-or-treaters on Halloween had apparently been busy with other local crimes tallying more than $70,000 in stolen goods, troopers say.

Wasilla resident Amber M. Martin, 20, was arrested late Friday night when Alaska State Troopers stopped a vehicle at Mile 53 of the Parks Highway for an equipment violation. Martin is one of two suspects in the Halloween holdup where one of two people in masks pointed a gun at and threatened to kill a group of trick-or-treaters.

In addition to holding up the children for their candy and an iPhone, Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Megan Peters said the suspects may also be linked to a string of burglaries that happened in Talkeetna near the same time. More than $70,000 in stolen property was recently recovered as part of an ongoing Alaska Bureau of Investigation inquest.

Martin is one of two women implicated in an unusual crime that sparked public outrage in the usually quiet village of Talkeetna. The robbery took place at 5:20 p.m. last Wednesday when two people witnesses identified as women jumped out of a truck and confronted a group of youths. A gun was pointed toward at least one child and at least one shot was fired into the air, witnesses reported.

Troopers in Houston stopped a vehicle at 10:32 p.m. Friday and discovered Martin’s identity. She was arrested and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation was notified. Martin was arrested on six counts of first-degree robbery and seven counts of assault in the third degree. Bail was set at $20,000 cash.

Martin was still in custody as of Monday evening.

Troopers declined to identify the second suspect, who is listed in a court filing as Kendra Butts of Wasilla.

“We are looking for another individual,” Peters said Monday.

Two men, Michael Scott Wilson and Aaron Tolen, both 24, were arrested Halloween evening at the Latitude 62 restaurant and bar about two hours after the crime. They were picked up on felony warrants and for hindering the investigation, an affidavit supporting charges says. Tolen faces a third-degree theft charge, as a badge taken from a trooper hat after Tolen was already in custody was reportedly recovered from him during a search. In the affidavit, Martin and Butts are identified as the girlfriends of Wilson and Tolen.

Troopers are investigating an unusual string of burglaries that happened in Talkeetna around Halloween and report the six burglaries are linked to the robbery of trick-or-treaters. The burglaries took place between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Recovered at an undisclosed location were two travel trailers, a pickup truck, a Polaris six-wheeler ATV, numerous tools and other property, Peters said. Alaska Wildlife Troopers aircraft were used in the recovery effort.

Contact John R. Moses at john.moses@frontiersman.com or call 352-2270.