Who dumped 300 pounds of fish, roe at Sitka?

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Wasted fish and herring eggs
On 9/28/10 Sitka Wildlife Troopers discovered approximately 300 pounds of wasted halibut, salmon, lingcod and herring eggs dumped near the woods off of Blue Lake Road. All of the fish was in Ziploc and vacuum-sealed bags. Evidence was collected and all fish products were seized. If anyone has information regarding this case, please contact AWT at 747-3254 or call the Fish and Wildlife Safeguard hotline at (800) 478-3377. Rewards are available for information leading to the prosecution of offenders.

Sitka troller was late with fish tickets, troopers say

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Failure to submit fish tickets
On 9/24/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, cited Gary R. Egerton, 62, of Sitka, for failing to submit commercial salmon troll tickets within the seven days required by regulation. Egerton is scheduled to appear in Sitka District Court for arraignment.

Craig man gets fine, probation for salmon violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Update — unlawful possession of king salmon
On 9/14/10 Charles E. Boothman, 45, of Craig, pled guilty in Ketchikan District Court to a charge of unlawful possession of commercially caught king salmon during a closed season. Boothman was placed on probation for one year and fined $3,000 with $1,500 suspended. Five forfeited king salmon were donated to charity.

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Suspicious activity, Sept. 14 — Caller reported four strangers with long guns had jumped in the back of a pickup and were heading towards downtown Unalaska. An officer located the men, who were identified as U.S. Coast Guard crewmen who had been hiking and fox hunting in the hills outside of town.

Environmental, Sept. 14, 1842 hours — Concerned citizen reported people using weighted hooks to snag fish near Church Hole. Responding officers found many people in the area but did not observe any illegal activity or equipment.

Environmental, Sept. 14, 1944 hours — Officer observed two men fishing with weighted treble hooks near Church Hole on the Iliuliuk River. Both men received citations and lengthy lectures on the value of protecting and preserving the community's natural resources. One of the men so cited repeatedly asked if it was legal for police to "sneak" in order to perform their jobs and was assured that this was a legal and worthy quality in a police officer.

Welfare check, Sept. 16 — Second-hand report that a man had been missing for five days. The investigating officers discovered that the missing man had simply found a job.

Drunk disturbance, Sept. 16 — Officers investigated yet another assault with food items, this time a pizza from Harbor View bar. A fight broke out between two bar patrons when one man elbowed the other's pizza, after which a piece of pizza pie was slapped onto the side of the elbower's face. The two men, who received minor injuries in the ensuing scuffle, later apologized and went their separate ways.

Trespass, Sept. 18 — Officer issued a trespass advisement per UniSea security to an inebriate who had recently been found sleeping in a UniSea company vehicle.

EMS, Sept. 18 — An ambulance stood by at the Unalaska Triathlon.

Warrant arrest, Sept. 18 — Anthony Hannon, 24, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for assault. The charge stemmed from an incident in which Hannon allegedly slapped a woman with raw egg in his hand.

Domestic disturbance, Sept. 19 — Officers responded to a report that a man had shoved a woman into his car and then driven away with her. Officers located the couple, who denied that any argument had ensued and said they had planned to sleep in their car in the hotel parking lot because their employer had not yet assigned them a room together.

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Assault, Sept. 5 — A man with runny, raw egg on his hand slapped a bartender at the Harbor View bar, spreading scrambled yolk and albumin about her face and in her hair. The man, who had fled the area before officers arrived, later told police he had simply wiped the broken egg on the bartender's face. Charges pending.

Motor vehicle accident with damage, Sept. 6 — The driver of a small, dark vehicle rammed the UniSea liquor store and then quickly drove away after surveying the damage to her car. Officers contacted Julie Guitard, 23, of Unalaska, after a witness identified her as the driver. Guitard, who was intoxicated, denied any involvement. She was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident, failure to immediately report an accident, driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

Suspicious activity, Sept. 6 — Employees of a local business shot several emergency flares into the night sky, causing officers of both the Ports and Public Safety departments to expend considerable time searching for the source of something that was not in fact an emergency.

Assault, Sept. 7 — An obnoxious, inebriated man who spent some hours repeatedly grabbing the buttocks of another bar patron challenged the bar patron to a fight and was promptly punched in the face, causing significant swelling and bleeding. No charges were filed.

Trespass, Sept. 7 — Two men involved in a fight outside of Harbor View bar were told not to return to any UniSea liquor facility for a period of six months.

Assistance rendered, Sept. 8 — A young man was threatened by the vexed brothers of the two teenage girls he was alternately dating. The man sped away with the school girl of the day in his truck, striking one of the brothers with the rearview mirror of his truck while sustaining damage to his truck from a rock thrown by a third concerned party. None of those involved wished to pursue charges.

Ambulance request, Sept. 9 — Caller requested an ambulance to take a woman from a boat to the clinic.

Craig fisherman charged with illegal bait harvest

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Craig
Type: Illegal bait harvest
On 8/27/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Klawock Post, cited Donald Albright, 57, of Craig, for harvesting commercial-caught lingcod and yelloweye rockfish and illegally using these prohibited species as bait for commercial purposes. He was summonsed to appear in Craig District Court.

Setnetter accused of illegal fishing at Yakutat

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Yakutat
Type: Commercial fish closed season
On 9/8/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Eric Baker, 50, of Milwaukie, Ore., at the Middle Italio River south of Yakutat. Investigation revealed that Baker had been fishing during a closed season on the previous day in the Middle Italio River. Baker was issued a summons with an arraignment date of 9/30/10 in Yakutat District Court.

Petersburg fisherman fined $500 after gillnet plea

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Juneau
Type: Undersized mesh
On 9/8/10 Terry J. Smith, 55, of Petersburg, pled guilty in Juneau District Court to one count of operating a commercial drift gillnet with undersized mesh. Smith was fined $500. The charge originated when Alaska Wildlife Troopers found that the beginning 10 fathoms of Smith's driftnet had undersized mesh. The inspection was conducted during routine patrol near Circle Point in District 11B.

A timeout for the Teri Lynn

A U.S. Coast Guard skiff tails the fishing vessel Teri Lynn on Sept. 6 in the western Gulf of Alaska. A boarding team from the cutter Acushnet ordered the boat to port at King Cove after finding safety violations including an inoperable high-water alarm system, inadequate fire extinguishing gear and an expired EPIRB. The Teri Lynn was able to sail the next day after fixing the problems, the Coast Guard said. The boarding team also ordered the cod boat St. Francis to port due in part to improper survival suits. USCG photo

Kodiak cod fisherman sentenced for illegal catch

From the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage:

Sept. 10, 2010

Kodiak fisherman sentenced for Lacey Act violations

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a commercial fisherman based in Kodiak was sentenced to four years probation, and was ordered to forfeit over $117,000 in proceeds of his fishing activities, for violations of the Lacey Act.

Thomas Millman, 73, who currently lives in Minnesota, pled guilty today to four counts of Lacey Act violations and was thereafter sentenced by U.S. District Judge John W. Sedwick.

According to court documents, Millman violated the Lacey Act by selling Pacific cod caught in violation of Alaska state law. Millman, the owner and operator of the fishing vessel Four Daughters, caught the cod in areas along the Aleutian Islands closed by the state of Alaska to protect the Steller sea lion.

Millman admitted to illegally catching over 250,000 pounds of Pacific cod worth over $73,000 during 2005.

"Enforcement of fisheries laws is an essential tool for protecting one of our nation's most valuable resources," Loeffler said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Enforcement Division (Kodiak office) conducted the investigation leading to Millman's conviction.

Dutch Harbor report

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

Trespass, Aug. 29 — An inebriated, clumsy and obstinate man was issued a trespass advisement, per his former captain, and was advised not to return to the boat on which he was formerly employed.

Welfare check, Sept. 1 — Caller reported a mud-covered, intoxicated man walking along the roadway. An officer responded and found a man who was mud-covered and intoxicated. Due to the lack of taxis at that hour of the morning, courtesy transport was provided for the mucky man.

Troopers cite Wrangell sablefish fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Wrangell
Type: Failure to register permit
On 9/8/10 Charles J. Petticrew Sr., 65, of Wrangell, was issued a summons for failing to register an eastern Gulf coast sablefish permit prior to fishing from the F/V Arlice. Arraignment is set for 9/20/10 in Wrangell District Court.

Kenai River dipnetter arrested, boat seized

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Soldotna
Type: False license application
On 7/24/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Robert Dodge, 44, of Oregon, at the Kenai City Dock. Dodge was participating in the Upper Cook Inlet personal use salmon fishery (dipnetting on the Kenai River), which is open to Alaska residents. Investigation revealed Dodge provided a false name during the initial contact. Information obtained during the investigation lead to the execution of a search warrant, at which time Dodge's 2005 ATEC boat was seized and an arrest warrant was obtained. On 9/4/10 the Anchorage Police Department executed the arrest warrant and remanded Dodge to the Anchorage jail on the following charges: making a false statement on a license application, prohibited conduct, criminal impersonation and making a false report. Dodge's bail is currently $2,500.

A weird case of weir sabotage

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Anchor Point
Type: Assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief
On 6/8/10 at approximately 1400 hours, several employees from the Alaska Department and Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were installing the weir on the Anchor River, just upstream from the Old Sterling Highway, when a large amount of debris floated down the river into them. The debris consisted of large trees, stumps and logs. Investigation revealed that Christopher Vigue, 46, of Anchor Point, intentionally placed the debris in the river in attempt to sabotage the weir installation. Vigue's actions placed seven people in risk of serious injury, and placed two people in fear that they would actually be injured by the debris. On approximately 9/3/10, Vigue was issued summonses to appear in court on charges of assault, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Yakutat trio charged with illegal fishing

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Yakutat
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 8/29/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Sheri Nelson, 54, of Yakutat, near the Situk River. Investigation revealed that Nelson had been fishing during a closed period. Nelson was issued a summons with an arraignment date of 9/30/10 in Yakutat District Court.

Location: Yakutat
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 8/29/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Ronnie Converse, 57, of Yakutat, near the Situk River. Investigation revealed that Converse had been fishing during a closed period. Converse was issued a summons with an arraignment date of 9/30/10 in Yakutat District Court.

Location: Yakutat
Type: Commercial fish closed period
On 8/29/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted George Valle, 53, of Yakutat, near the Situk River. Investigation revealed that Valle had been fishing during a closed period. Valle was issued a summons with an arraignment date of 9/30/10 in Yakutat District Court.

Dutch Harbor report

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

Assistance rendered, Aug. 25 — Caller reported a disoriented, intoxicated man wandering about at the City Dock. Officers found a habitual sleepwalker who had woken up in a wet WWII bunker and had walked towards the lights at the City Dock upon awakening. Officers escorted the man, who had arrived in town only a few hours earlier, back to his employer.

Suspicious activity, Aug. 25 — Caller reported screaming from the area of the footbridge near the library. She was unsure whether the screams were from foxes or women. Officers responding to the area found numerous foxes actively involved in the annual consummation of their relationship.

Theft, Aug. 27 — Caller reported his iPhone and a sleeping bag were stolen from his stateroom on board the F/V Alaska Warrior. Under investigation.

Suspicious person, Aug. 28 — A man reported his former roommate had attempted to poison him with tainted mouthwash five months ago, that he sent the mouthwash and $100 to a laboratory in Mexico (but has received no information in return) and that he wants his former roommate, who has since left the country, to answer questions in court. An officer advised the man that evidence of some sort might strengthen his case.

Drunk disturbance, Aug. 29, 0302 hours — Captain of a vessel reported two intoxicated, obnoxious men tried to fight with him when he asked them to leave his vessel. The boors had fled by the time officers arrived.

Trespass, Aug. 29, 0404 hours — Three drunken boors crept back on board a vessel and continued to harass the captain. Officers located the obnoxious oafs and issued a trespass advisement per the captain's request.

Undercover drug probe nets four in Petersburg

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Petersburg
Type: Drug offenses
On 8/26/10 at approximately 1723 hours, the Alaska State Troopers Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) Task Force, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, U.S. Forest Service, Petersburg Police Department, Ketchikan Police Department and SEACAD canine Justice executed three search warrants in Petersburg and arrested three subjects. These arrests are the result of a three-month undercover investigation in Petersburg by SEACAD into the sale and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs. Those arrested were Renee Lester, 27, of Petersburg; Tabetha Taylor, 19, of Petersburg; and Ryan Snidarich, 19, of Petersburg. A fourth suspect, Eric Walker, 36, of Anchorage, was arrested on 8/25/10 as he attempted to depart town at the Petersburg airport. During Walker's arrest, a small amount of cocaine was found in his possession which resulted in an additional charge. Additional subjects have been identified and the investigation is ongoing.

Gun pulled in fish fight at Port Moller

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Port Moller
Type: On 8/28/10 Alaska State Troopers based in King Salmon flew to Port Moller to investigate a reported assault involving a firearm. Investigation revealed that commercial fisherman Scott Oglesbee, 48, of Arizona, got into a verbal argument with another commercial fisherman. The argument escalated over a fishing area to the point that Oglesbee pointed a firearm in the direction of the other commercial fishermen while fishing near Port Moller on 8/25/10. Oglesbee vacated Port Moller while troopers were en route. This case remains under investigation.

Crewman, employer cited on license violations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Chignik
Type: Unlicensed crewman
On 8/22/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Kodiak Post, cited Cale Stepanoff, 19, of Chignik, for not having a commercial crewmember license, and Arthur Pedersen, 52, of Chignik, for employing an unlicensed crewmember. Investigation revealed that Pedersen hired Stepanoff to work on board the F/V Kadiak in the Chignik area while Stepanoff did not have a commercial crewmember license. Bail was set at $260 for both.

Dutch Harbor crewman arrested on warrant

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Arrest
On 9/2/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers cited Marco Anthony Ramirez, 32, of Chicago, for purchasing a 2010 Alaska resident commercial fishing crewmember license while not meeting the residency requirements. Investigation also revealed Ramirez had an outstanding $500 Soldotna State Troopers bench warrant. Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers arrested Ramirez on the warrant. Arraignment is scheduled for 9/3/10 in the Unalaska District Court.