Troopers arrest man after standoff

WASILLA -- A 45-year-old Wasilla man was arrested Feb. 14 after allegedly pointing a rifle at two Alaska State Troopers and holding them at bay for more than two hours.

The man, named in court documents and booking records as Grizzly Bear, was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $22,500 bail and a court-approved, third-party custodian. He was taken into custody Saturday at 10:31 p.m. and charged with two counts of felony assault and one count of misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor.

Troopers responded to Misty Lake Court shortly before 8 p.m. after a neighbor of Bear's called to report a man crouched down in the woods with a rifle near his house. Trooper Ron Hayes said in an affidavit that he and another trooper began walking toward Bear's house but were told to go away.

The officers continued to approach, the affidavit said, and they saw a man later identified as Bear crouched by a vehicle 45 yards away, holding what appeared to be a long rifle.

Pointing the rifle at the troopers, Bear said, "Go away or it's going to be you or me," according to Hayes' affidavit.

Fearing for their safety, the troopers retreated to their vehicles, where they continued to watch Bear, the affidavit said. During the standoff, Bear called the trooper dispatch and said there would be a shoot-out if the officers didn't leave, according to Hayes.

Bear surrendered a couple of hours later and troopers took a 6.5 x .55 caliber rifle from his house, charging documents said. Bear's blood-alcohol level was .094.