Suspect nabbed in Valley rape

MAT-SU — A Wasilla man was arrested Thursday in Tennessee on charges stemming from an alleged attempt to rape a Palmer woman.

According to a press release from Alaska State Troopers, on Jan. 12 Jason Freeland, 34, of Wasilla, held a 29-year-old Palmer woman in his car against her will and “attempted to force her to engage in sexual penetration while driving towards Anchorage.”

Troopers were first called into the case at 2:56 p.m., Jan. 12 to help Anchorage police try to find Freeland’s vehicle.

The woman and Freeland knew each other, troopers report.

Freeland stopped in Eagle River to get gas and the woman fled the vehicle. Freeland left the scene and wasn’t found, but troopers obtained an arrest warrant.

Authorities had been seeking his arrest without success until Thursday, when troopers got word Freeland had flown to Memphis on a commercial flight. He was arrested there on the sexual assault, kidnapping and assault charges and is being held without bail pending extradition to Alaska.