Wasilla man arrested after 'Jerry Springer' episode

Man allegedly shot TV, tried to steal trooper's gun

By AMY MENEREY-Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- An apparent ruckus involving a television shock show and shots fired in a Wasilla home ended with one man arrested for four counts of assault, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Carrel Daniel Rawls, 62, was arrested in the early morning hours March 9 after Alaska State Troopers received a report that a man had fired a gun into a television and threatened people in the home. First to arrive at the scene was Trooper Christopher Russell who said Rawls was armed with a handgun in his belt and refused to comply with verbal commands, according to an affidavit filed in Palmer court written by Trooper Marc Hendrickson, who arrived after Russell. As Russell tried to gain control a struggle began and Rawls grabbed Russell's shotgun. Both men fell to the ground, causing both guns to fall. Rawls then put Russell in a headlock, according Russell's account, and the two were still fighting when Trooper Lewis arrived and sprayed Rawls with pepper spray. At that point Rawls tried to grab Russell's handgun, but was unable to get it out of the holster, according to the document. The two troopers were then able to gain control of Rawls and place him into custody.

The drama-filled "reality" TV show "Jerry Springer" appeared to be at the heart of the incident. According to Hendrickson's interview with Rawls' wife, her husband had been working on the computer in a front room while she was in a back room watching Springer. She said Rawls got up and started yelling at her, asking why she was watching the show, according to the affidavit. She reported he then started throwing things at the TV and it would not turn off, so he pushed her into a bookcase, making her hit her head and causing a bump and a small cut. Rawls then pulled out his gun and fired two shots, according to charging documents. The first shot went into the television, with the second going into the living room of the home and through the window of the front door. Rawls then reportedly put the gun to the victim's left ear and yelled obscenities. She said she felt "pure fear," according to the document.

Another witness at the home said he was asleep on the couch until he heard yelling, according to the documents. He got up when he heard the gun shots, he told troopers, and was in the front room when the second gun shot was fired through it. He reportedly said he was "afraid for his life," because he did not know what Rawls would do with the weapon. The witness said Rawls told him the previous day he was tired of living, but was afraid to pull the trigger himself, according to Hendrickson. He believed the man was hoping troopers would end his life, he said.

Rawls was charged with three counts of third-degree assault, one count of fourth-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief. He is being held without bail at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.

Contact Amy Menerey at editor@frontiersman.com.