Wasilla heroin case leads to Anchorage

WASILLA — A heroin investigation in a Wasilla parking lot led to an Anchorage hotel Tuesday.

An Alaska State Trooper press statement on the case begins with the Mat-Su Drug Unit investigators conducting “a heroin sales investigation in the parking lot of a Wasilla business” at around 6 p.m., troopers report.

Timothy Russell, 26, of Anchorage, allegedly ran from troopers when they went to arrest him, but was caught after a foot pursuit. Troopers say he was wanted on a warrant for a probation violation and “also in possession of a large amount of heroin, some methamphetamine and several thousand dollars in U.S. currency.”

A passenger in Russell’s vehicle, Daniel Russell, 24, of Wasilla, was arrested for allegedly violating his probation.

Both were jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, but troopers kept working.

“Investigation was continued on the case at a hotel in Anchorage,” according to the press release.

Troopers worked with Anchorage police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to investigate the operation at the hotel, where they contacted three suspects.

“Investigation revealed that they were in possession of heroin and were involved in heroin distribution,” troopers report.

Only one of those suspects was named in the press release, likely because he was the only one immediately arrested — Joseph Gearhart, 44, of Anchorage. He was arrested on a warrant for evidence tampering, fraud and theft.

Troopers say they’re drawing up drug misconduct charges for all five people for the district attorney to review.

Court records show prosecutors have been trying since January to revoke Timothy Russell’s probation in a 2008 felony drug possession case out of Anchorage. His record includes mainly driving offenses except for a burglary case and a theft case out of Palmer prior to his drug possession case.

Daniel Russell faces a similar probation revocation on a 2008 felony drug possession case. The rest of his record is composed of minor driving offenses.

Gearhart’s tampering case dates back to 2010. His record includes theft, drug possession, vehicle theft and various less serious crimes.

As of Thursday afternoon, all three arrestees remained in jail. Gearhart was in the Anchorage Jail and the Russells at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.