SWAT called to respond to child endangerment arrest in Willow

Last week, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation (ABI) Child Abuse Investigation Unit was called to respond to a report of a malnourished infant. The ABI obtained a search warrant and probable cause to arrest Joseph Jones on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child.

Due to prior encounters with Jones, and out of concern for the infant’s safety, the SWAT team was activated. According to an online dispatch, on November 20, around 11:20 a.m., Jones was observed leaving his Willow residence in a vehicle with the infant and another adult, and upon his return, SWAT members were able to safely extract the infant from the vehicle. The child was medevaced to an Anchorage hospital for medical treatment.

Jones was heavily armed and refused arrest. SWAT members continued to contact Jones, eventually utilizing the Alaska State Troopers’ Bearcat armored rescue vehicle and deploying less-lethal impact munitions and chemical munitions.

Ultimately, Jones was taken into custody without injury. The Anchorage Police Department’s SWAT team, Troopers’ Crisis Negotiation Team and the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Team provided additional support during the investigation.

This is a developing story.