Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Suspicious person, April 21 — Officer advised a mildly intoxicated and sleeping man that he was not allowed to use the Unalaska library as a bedroom, and that he should return to his own premises if he was in such need of a nap. The man left the library without incident.

Suspicious activity, April 24 — One caller reported seeing a flare above the Unalaska Post Office, and another reported seeing one from the Captains Bay area. Officers checked the general area but found nothing to indicate any emergency.

Warrant arrest, April 25 — Nikki S. Clinton, 38, was arrested on an outstanding warrant after an off-duty officer recognized him on a UniSea dock.

Animal, April 26 — A decidedly unfriendly cat was turned in to the Unalaska Department of Public Safety for adoption.

Suspicious person, April 26 — Harbor officer asked police to talk to a man at the airport because the man seemed upset. Officers did, and learned that the man had been fired from his job but did not want any assistance. Prior to departing the area, officers advised the man that his driver's license was revoked.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Sitka troller draws jail time, fine

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Sentencing
On 4/4/14 Kristopher Foster, 37, of Sitka, captain and permit holder on the F/V Stardust, pled guilty as part of a plea agreement to unlawful retention of undersized king salmon, and waste of salmon. Foster was ordered to serve 30 days in jail with 20 days suspended, and fined $6,000 with $3,000 suspended. The undersized king salmon were forfeited to the state. Foster also was placed on probation for two years. These charges were the result of an investigation where it was determined that on 10/20/13 Foster had attempted to land several undersized king salmon at Sitka Sound Seafoods while participating in the winter commercial troll fishery. After the processor refused to accept the undersized fish, Foster attempted to dispose of them by feeding them to a sea lion in the Sitka harbor area to prevent being cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Troopers crack down on herring pounders

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Vixen Inlet
Type: Failure to release herring
On 4/20/14 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Donald Durgan, 62, June Durgan, 57, and Ronald Durgan, all of Craig, for unlawfully retaining herring in a herring pound by not releasing the fish as required. Arraignment set for 5/21/14 in Ketchikan District Court.

Location: Vixen Inlet
Type: Failure to release herring
On 4/20/14 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Michael Demmert, 28, Shelton Maves, 62, Titus Winrod, 32, and James Quigley, 52, all of Craig. The four were participating as permit holders in the Ernest Sound spawn-on-kelp commercial fishery. Investigation revealed they unlawfully retained herring in a herring pound by not releasing the fish as required. Arraignment set for 5/21/14 in Ketchikan District Court.

Location: Ernest Sound
Type: Unlawful retention of herring
On 4/20/14 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Shon Landon, 34, of Washington state, who was participating as a permit holder in the Ernest Sound spawn-on-kelp commercial fishery. Investigation revealed Landon unlawfully retained herring in a herring pound for more than six days. Landon was issued a summons to appear for arraignment in Ketchikan District Court.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Drunk disturbance, April 15 — Officers responded to a bunkhouse regarding a disturbance report and found a gaggle of people running about, yelling and pointing at one another. Witnesses told officers the "disturbance" was nothing more than one man disputing the validity of another's "tough guy" attitude.

Disorderly conduct, April 16, 0830 hours — An inebriated and disruptive Samuel K. Kulang, 33, was arrested on one count of disorderly conduct after he challenged officers and crewmembers alike to fight.

Warrant arrest, April 16, 1022 hours — Samuel K. Kulang was arrested on several outstanding warrants after officers contacted him regarding a disturbance onboard his fishing vessel.

Assault, April 19 — Officers responded to a bunkhouse regarding a report of a fight, and found that one man had taken it upon himself to spray his sleeping roommate with beer and then hit him in the head with the empty bottle when the sleeping man expressed his annoyance. Bernd H. Walter Jr., 23, was arrested on one count of assault.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Longliner cited over 1,320-pound haul of lingcod

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Yakutat
Type: Lingcod violation
On 4/14/14 Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Yakutat contacted Shawn McManus, 44, of Woodinville, Wash., after receiving a report through the Department of Fish and Game that McManus caught and retained 1,320 pounds of lingcod while longlining off the coast of Yakutat after lingcod had been closed by emergency order for that area. McManus was charged with retaining lingcod during a closed season, and must appear in Yakutat District Court.

PWS shrimper had too much gear, troopers say

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Anchorage
Type: Shrimp gear violation
On 4/15/14 Larry Gilman, 53, of Whittier, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Anchorage Post, for commercial fishing for Prince William Sound shrimp while in possession of an overlimit of pot gear. Arraignment set in Anchorage District Court.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Theft, March 31 — Processing plant employee reported his phone had been stolen, possibly by a roommate, while he was showering. Under investigation.

Welfare check, April 2 — Woman asked for assistance locating any record of her father, last seen two years earlier boarding a flight to Unalaska. Officers checked employment records at the major employers in town but found no record that the father had ever worked at any of those places.

Assault, April 10 — Officers responded to a galley regarding a finger-wrestling match gone awry. One intoxicated contestant allegedly carried the digit-grappling too far when he wrenched his opponent's fingers until the man pulled away in fear and pain. Alipio S. Pogoy Jr., 35, will be charged with one count of assault.

Environmental, April 10 — Hundreds of crab legs were dumped at an intersection near the community center, causing concern that eagles and foxes would descend en masse upon the area. Officers located the person responsible for the spill and advised her to collect the legs and remove them from the area.

Assault, April 11 — A man told police he had been attacked by a bunkhouse tenant armed with a hatchet, but had been able to disarm the suspect and had then run to the police department with the weapon. The suspect claimed he had the knife because he intended to use it for preparing his dinner in the common kitchen. A witness confirmed that the suspect had been holding a knife when he approached the victim after an argument. Tuan Anh Nguyen, 54, was charged with assault after officers recovered an 8-inch cleaver from the victim.

Release conditions, April 12 — Tuan Anh Nguyen, 54, was arrested for violating conditions of release when he returned to his bunkhouse room only a short time after having been released from jail and ordered by the court not to return to his lodging.

Homer fisherman fined after trial verdict

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: Trial verdict
On 4/9/14 a Cordova District Court jury found Jim L. Frary, 55, of Homer, guilty of failing to complete fish tickets as required by regulation. He was fined $1,500 and placed on probation for three years. This case stemmed from an August 2011 incident where the defendant repeatedly disregarded the processor (Trident Seafoods), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Wildlife Troopers in their attempts to have the defendant sign (complete) two fish tickets involving blackcod and halibut deliveries. The fish tickets eventually were completed to Fish and Game's satisfaction seven months after they were due.

Note: This item has been revised to reflect new information.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Troller charged with illegal lingcod retention

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Warren Channel
Type: Bycatch violation
Investigation revealed that Barry Mckee, 65, of Sitka, the captain of the F/V Ocean Gem, retained lingcod on 1/24/14 while participating in the winter commercial troll fishery. Lingcod can only be taken as bycatch during the commercial troll season from May 16 through Nov. 30. Mckee was issued a citation for retaining lingcod during a closed period. He must appear in Craig District Court.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Vessel operator charged with drunk driving

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Driving while intoxicated
On 4/4/14 at approximately 1425 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard received a report of an intoxicated boater near Metlakatla. At approximately 1510 hours, the USCG contacted the F/V Cape Ommaney at Walden Rocks, Nichols Passage, near Metlakatla. The operator of the boat was detained by the USCG on suspicion of intoxication. Investigation revealed Richard D. Olin II, 32, of Metlakatla, was driving while intoxicated. Olin was arrested and transported to the Ketchikan Correctional Center.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Emergency response, March 23 — Fire, EMS and police personnel responded to a small ammonia leak. (The leak occurred at the UniSea complex, prompting a worker evacuation, KUCB radio reported.)

Animal, March 23 — A runner reported having been attacked by a bald eagle, apparently one of a nesting pair returning to nest across from the clinic.

DUI, March 24 — Officers investigated a report that a fishing vessel captain was operating his boat while intoxicated. No signs of alcohol consumption or impairment were discovered.

Suspicious person, March 25, 0537 hours — Caller reported an intoxicated man sleeping in the entry of a local church. The man, whose explanation was peppered with expletives, said he was trying to attend Bible study.

Assault, March 25 — Anthony Espiritu Aro, 28, was arrested on charges of burglary, assault and tampering with evidence after officers investigated an assault in a local bunkhouse. Multiple witnesses stated that Aro, armed with a knife, attempted to force his way into another man's bunkroom and then tried to stab the victim multiple times. The victim's roommates were able to protect him from all but minor injury. Aro, who had fled to another room, claimed he had been jumped by unidentified assailants and had cut himself on a broken bottle.

Assistance rendered, March 26 — Harbor and police officers responded to a docked vessel from which the U.S. Coast Guard had received an automated distress signal. The crew was unaware that a distress signal had been sent, and was unsure how the emergency messaging system worked. Officers noted nothing amiss aboard the vessel.

Public safety, March 27 — Unalaska Department of Public Safety employees and volunteers participated in a tsunami evacuation drill.

Petersburg crabber fined for illegal gear storage

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Petersburg
Type: Conviction
On 4/1/14 Kory Versteeg, 30, of Petersburg, the permit holder aboard the F/V Guardian, was convicted of unlawful storage of commercial crab gear. The conviction is a result of an Alaska Wildlife Troopers investigation that showed Versteeg had illegally stored crab gear before the Tanner and golden king crab season in Frederick Sound. Versteeg was fined $2,000 with $1,000 suspended and placed on probation for one year.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Petersburg crabber nets $3K fine, forfeits catch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Petersburg
Type: Conviction
On 4/1/14 Jared Bright, 39, of Petersburg, the permit holder aboard the F/V Obsession, was convicted of retaining undersized golden king crab. The conviction is the result of an Alaska Wildlife Troopers investigation that showed Bright delivered commercially caught golden king crab that were less than 7 inches in width of shell. Bright was convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to pay $8,000 with $5,000 suspended and placed on probation for two years. Bright forfeited the undersized crab to the state of Alaska.