Troopers charge 2 passengers after traffic stop

WASILLA — Two men were arrested Friday on charges that include multiple felony counts and two counts of hindering prosecution.

Alaska State Troopers report that a passenger fled the vehicle during a traffic stop at Mile 10.5, Knik-Goose Bay Road around 3:34 a.m., June 8.

Another passenger in the front seat, identified as Jason W. Bay, 33, of Wasilla, told troopers that the man who fled was a hitchhiker they’d had picked up and that they did not know him.

However, when troopers from Palmer patrol and a Wasilla Police officer with K9 “Marshall” located Rory E. Vail, 23, of Wasilla hiding in the woods he shortly thereafter, he was found in possession of a cellphone that had received text messages warning him of the law enforcement search.

When troopers checked the cellphone number that sent the texts, they discovered it belonged to Bay.

“Troopers contacted Bay at a nearby residence and, when confronted with this information, he admitted to knowing Vail and sending the text messages,” according to a trooper statement.

Bay was arrested and charged with one count of hindering prosecution I, and one count of hindering prosecution II. He was transported to Mat-Su Pretrial with bail set at $2,500.

Investigation revealed that Vail had a felony warrant for failure to appear on multiple theft II and MICS IV charges, and a misdemeanor warrant for leaving the scene and failure to report an accident, troopers said. In addition he was found to have 3.72 grams of marijuana on his person, for which he was charged with MICS VI.

Vail was arrested and transported to Mat-Su Pretrial where he was lodged on $10,000 bail and a third-party custodian requirement for the felonies, and $1,000 cash for the misdemeanors.