Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Welfare check, Aug. 17 — Several 911 calls which originated from a U.S. Coast Guard vessel were received in dispatch. Investigation revealed the land-line system for the vessel was set up in such a way that long-distance calls might mistakenly dial 911 rather than the intended recipient.

Drunk disturbance, Aug. 18 — Officers responded to a drunken shoving match on board a fishing vessel and found two intoxicated men who provided sketchy stories about whatever had occurred between them. Neither party wished to pursue any charges and the men were instructed to separate for the night.

Animal, Aug. 18 — An incensed caller reported a young woman had abandoned a 3-month-old puppy in the middle of the road. The caller had already given the young woman a tongue-lashing regarding her reprehensible behavior but wanted police to be aware of the situation. An officer contacted the woman, who maintained that her puppy had jumped out the car window and that she’d had every intention of returning for it later. The responsible citizen who found the puppy in the roadway told police he would like to keep it and provide it with a good home.

EMS, Aug. 19 — A man who was bleeding from a large gash on the top of his head came to the Unalaska Department of Public Safety to report having been attacked by eagles near City Hall. The man was provided with basic first aid and transport to the clinic.

Suspicious person, Aug. 20 — Caller reported a man in camouflage crouched on a hilltop near the Dutch Harbor post office with what appeared to be a weapon. An officer located the potential terrorist, who turned out to be a photographer with a very large lens.

Assistance rendered, Aug. 23 — A woman whose life had been changed by a man she met in Texas called to ask police if he was really a resident of Unalaska and whether police had contact with him in the past. She was considering moving to Unalaska but wanted to make sure this life-changing man wasn’t a fake. An officer advised her that police indeed know the man. The woman also asked if she should move to Unalaska to be with him. The officer suggested that perhaps she consider why she was calling the police to make this kind of decision.

Troopers bust up illegal halibut sales scheme

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Klawock
Type: Selling federal caught subsistence halibut
On 08/06/09, at 1354 hours, Klawock Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Donald Nickerson Jr., age 44, of Klawock, for posting a sign outside the Klawock post office advertising fresh halibut for sale. At approximately 1430 hrs, Klawock AWT caught Nickerson attempting to sell federal caught subsistence halibut from his motor vehicle in Craig. The case was documented by AWT and forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Nickerson Jr. is being charged by NMFS with the illegal sale of federal caught subsistence halibut.

Seiner charged with fishing violation at Ketchikan

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Commercial fishing closed waters
On 08/11/2009 John R Liddicoat, 45 yoa, of Washington, was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters. Liddicoat was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers after he was contacted while commercial salmon seining aboard the F/V Endurance. Investigation revealed the F/V Endurance was fishing in a closed area near Grant Cove. Arrangement was scheduled in Ketchikan for 08/17/2009.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Sen. Kookesh to fight subsistence fishing citation

On Aug. 6 the Alaska State Troopers issued the following press release about subsistence salmon fishing citations issued to state Sen. Albert Kookesh and others.

Here's an Associated Press story about how Kookesh plans to fight the charge.

Location: Angoon
Type: Take overlimit of subsistence salmon
On 7/12/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Hoonah contacted Albert Kookesh Sr., Scott Hunter, Stanley Johnson and Rocky Estrada Sr. while they were in possession of 148 sockeye salmon they took subsistence fishing with a beach seine in Kanalku Bay near Angoon. These individuals and one other person on scene each had a valid subsistence permit allowing them to take and possess a total of 75 sockeye salmon collectively. The additional 73 sockeye salmon in their possession were provided to the senior center in Angoon. At the conclusion of the Troopers investigation, Albert Kookesh Sr., Scott Hunter, Stanley Johnson and Rocky Estrada Sr. were each cited for one count of taking an overlimit of subsistence salmon which is a mandatory court appearance. Court appearance date is 8/12/09 in Angoon District Court.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Cordova troopers make marijuana bust

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: Misconduct involving a controlled substance
On 8/23/09 Robert W. Erickson, 49 yoa, of Kodiak, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova Post. Erickson was cited and released for smoking marijuana in public behind the Cordova Fish and Game office. The arraignment date was set for 9/30/09 in the District Court of Cordova.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Troopers ticket Kodiak fisherman, seize salmon

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Commercial fish during closed period
On 8/22/09 at about 1139 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a report of a fishing vessel in Izhut Bay, fishing after the closure. Troopers responded and contacted Michael Clemens, age 50, of Las Vegas, Nev. Clemens was given a summons for commercial fishing during a closed period and released. Approximately 5,000 pounds of salmon was seized by troopers.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Assist other agency, Aug. 9 — Robert L. Troup, 40 yoa, of Georgia, was arrested on an extraditable warrant out of Oregon for criminal nonsupport. Troup was located on a local fishing vessel and was taken into custody without incident.

Assistance rendered, Aug. 9 — Mother called requesting information on how to reach her daughter, who works on a vessel moored several miles from Unalaska. The mother was provided with contact numbers to reach the vessel.

Assault, Aug. 11 — Officers responded to Westward Seafoods, where it appeared a man and woman were fighting with one another. Investigation revealed the fight consisted only of the man holding and pushing the mildly intoxicated woman away from a bottle of alcohol he had just thrown away. The woman was additionally found to be on probation, with conditions including no alcohol consumption. Her probation officer was contacted and elected not to remand the violator.

Trespass, Aug. 12 — Westward security requested officer presence while a recently terminated employee was given a trespass advisement.

Traffic crime, Aug. 14 — UniSea security officer reported a man driving poorly through their facility, and suspected the driver might be intoxicated. The driver was found to be sober and was given a warning about driving carefully through private property.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Cook Inlet setnetter charged with crew violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ninilchik
Type: Employ unlicensed crewmember
On 08-14-09 at approximately 1930 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Howard Ryherd, age 62 of Soldotna, at the Soldotna Wildlife Trooper Post. Investigation revealed that Ryherd employed James Ryherd, who did not possess a valid crewmember license for the summer of 2009. James Ryherd worked for Howard Ryherd at a commercial setnet site on the Ninilchik Beach near Mile 129 of the Sterling Highway. Howard Ryherd was issued a citation with bail set at $260.

Kodiak skipper charged with DUI, assault

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Afognak Island
Type: DUI and assault
On 8/13/09 at approximately 1604 hours a crewmember of the F/V Neva reported the captain, Kyle Mead, age 32 of Kodiak, had assaulted him on the boat. Investigation revealed that the assault and injury to the crewman took place while under way near Afognak Island. Further investigation revealed Mead was also navigating the F/V Neva while impaired by alcohol. Mead was arrested for driving while under the influence and assault.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Seiner fished illegally at Ketchikan, troopers say

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Commercial fishing closed waters
On 08/11/2009 John R. Liddicoat, 45 yoa, of Washington state, was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters. Liddicoat was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers after he was contacted while commercial salmon seining aboard the F/V Endurance. Investigation revealed the F/V Endurance was fishing in a closed area near Grant Cove. Arrangement is scheduled in Ketchikan on 08/17/2009.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Cordova fishermen net tickets on crew licenses

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: Employ unlicensed crewmember
On 8/11/09 Bruce Privett, 41 yoa, of Wasilla, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova Post. Privett was cited for employing a crewmember, Bryson Patula, who didn't have a current 2009 Alaska crewmember license in his possession. Bail is set at $260.

Location: Cordova
Type: No crewmember license
On 8/11/09 Bryson G. Patula, 27 yoa, of Reno, Nev., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova Post. Patula was cited for commercial fishing without a current 2009 Alaska commercial crewmember license in his possession. Bail is set at $260.

Location: Cordova
Type: False statement on crewmember license
On 8/13/09 Trevor Clark, 21 yoa, of Juneau, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova Post, for making a false statement as to a material fact on his 2009 Alaska commercial crewmember license. The arraignment date was set for 9/30/09 in the District Court of Cordova.

Charter boat operator cited on logbook violations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Seward
Type: Logbook violations
On 8/14/09 Mark A. Clemens, 50 yoa, of Seward, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Seward Post, for failing to meet weekly mail-in dates on saltwater charter logbooks for vessels in his employ. Bail was set at $420.

Troopers cite Kodiak salmon fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 8/15/09 Timothy Gossett, 54 yoa, of Kodiak, was cited by Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing for salmon in the Inner Kitoi Bay Section of the Afognak District after the 3 p.m. commercial closure.

'Cannonball' theft reported in Angoon

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Angoon
Type: Criminal mischief, theft
On 8-13-09, at 1531, Juneau AST and the Angoon VPSO responded to a report of criminal mischief and theft from a vehicle in Angoon. The owner of the vehicle reported that several windows on his van had been broken and several commercial fishing "cannonballs" had been stolen. The investigation in on going.

Friday, August 14, 2009

The Dutch Harbor report

From the Unalaska police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Trespass, Aug. 8 — UniSea security asked officers to locate a man who consistently causes problems at their facilities, and advise him he is no longer allowed on any of their premises.

Public safety, Aug. 8 — Courtesy call about the use of flares during a marine safety exercise.

Troopers ticket Maine man on permit violations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Quinhagak
Type: Un-sworn Falsification II
On 8/13/09 Bethel Wildlife Troopers summonsed Henry F. Mark, age 47, of Pownal, Maine, on four counts of Un-sworn Falsification II. Mark is accused of making false statements on applications for Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission permits. Mark is scheduled for arraignment in Bethel District Court on 9/2/09.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Petersburg processor ticketed on two charges

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Petersburg
Type: No processor's code plates, no fisheries business license
On 08/07/09 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Petersburg Post, issued a summons to Tonka Seafoods of Petersburg for purchasing commercially caught fish while having no code plates and no fisheries business license. An investigation by troopers revealed Tonka Seafoods made 43 purchases of commercially caught fish this year, totaling 2,627 pounds of fish, without having 2009 processor's code plates or a 2009 fisheries business license. Arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 13 in the Petersburg District Court.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Another Dutch Harbor report

From the Unalaska police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Suicide, July 27 — Officer responded to a processing plant where an employee was allegedly threatening to commit suicide. Subsequent investigation determined an employee was disgruntled over the amount of hours he was allowed to work after accidentally chopping off the tip of his finger, but had no intention of harming himself.

Drunk disturbance, July 28 — A drunken hotel patron whose service dog was roaming the hallway and howling complained about having to pay cash for drinks at the Harbor View bar and demanded that UniSea, a company for which he does not work, fly him to another community in the Aleutians. The patron had a litany of other complaints.

Trespass, July 28 — UniSea security reported two possible trespassers on the cliffs above their bunkhouses. Officers contacted two young men who were cycling there and advised them that the area was both dangerous and private property.

Trespass, July 29 — Officers issued a trespass advisement, per company management, to two women who were visiting men in a company bunkhouse. The women, both underage, were also warned against consuming alcohol prior to coming of age.

Ambulance request, July 31 — EMS volunteers and UniSea safety officers provided medical care to a man with severe diabetic complications.

Disorderly conduct, Aug. 1 — Two men began arguing about tattoos in a company bunkhouse, resulting in one of them placing a call to police alleging that the other was smoking marijuana. The investigating officer found nothing to substantiate this assertion, and encouraged the two to separate for the night.

Welfare check, Aug. 1 — Caller requested assistance with a man who would not stop talking. Officers encouraged the loquacious individual to go elsewhere so the complainant could sleep.

Two Yukon fishermen plead guilty to chum waste

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Anvik
Type: Waste of salmon — after arraignment
On 7/15/09 Aniak Wildlife Troopers received reports that fish were being wasted during the Y4A commercial fisheries near Anvik. Investigation revealed that Gabriel J. Nicholi, 35, and Richard A. Nicholi, 54, both of Grayling, had wasted at least 80 chum salmon. Both men pled guilty on 8/5/09 in Aniak District Court to one count each of waste of salmon. Gabriel was fined $4,000 with $2,000 suspended, ordered to serve 30 days in jail with all 30 suspended and placed on probation two years. Richard was fined $2,000 with $1,000 suspended, ordered to serve 15 days in jail with all 15 suspended and placed on probation two years.

Here's an earlier press release the troopers issued on July 17 about this case:

Location: Anvik
Type: Waste of salmon
On 7/15/09 Aniak Wildlife Troopers received reports that fish were being wasted during the Y4A commercial fisheries near Anvik. The Y4A fishery is directed at the harvest of chum salmon roe. Investigation revealed that during a commercial opening on 7/13/09, Gabriel Nicholi, 35, of Grayling, had failed to utilize at least 80
chum salmon and Northern pike, by cutting the fish in half and depositing them in the river. Nicholi was issued a summons to appear in Aniak Court.

Troopers on Yukon patrol ticket fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Lower Yukon River
Type: Commercial license
On July 20 during Lower Yukon River commercial fishing patrol via state float plane, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from St. Marys issued a citation to Amos Prunes, DOB of 8/18/82, for failing to have a commercial crewmember license while commercial fishing.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Bunkhouse beating reported at Peter Pan cannery

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Port Moller
Type: Assault
The morning of 7/29/09, J. Christopher Burton, age 43, of Tacoma, Wash., a crew member aboard a commercial fishing boat, was severely beaten by another fisherman inside the Peter Pan cannery bunkhouse in Port Moller. Burton's injuries were treated by the PA at the cannery clinic. On 8/1/09 Burton was flown into Anchorage, where he received additional treatment at Alaska Regional Hospital before being released to return to his home in Washington on 8/2/09. The incident is under investigation by AST.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Petersburg crabber pinched on Dungeness catch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Petersburg
Type: Undersize commercial Dungeness crab
On 07/31/09 at 1000 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Petersburg Post issued a summons to Thomas D. Parker, 44 yoa, of Petersburg, in the Wrangell Narrows near Petersburg for possessing undersize commercially caught Dungeness crab. An investigation by troopers revealed Parker was in possession of four undersize commercially caught Dungeness crabs out of a total of 44 Dungeness crabs aboard the F/V Mad Meg, resulting in 10 percent undersize crabs on board. Arraignment is scheduled in the Petersburg District Court for 08/13/2009.