Alaska Department Of Public Safety,State Troopers Public Information Office

Alaska State Troopers Press Release of Monday, January 23, 2023

Any charges reported in these press releases are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A Detachment

• AK23007232

  Location: Ninilchik

  Type: Warrant Arrest, VCOR

  Dispatch Text:

  On 1/22/23 at approximately 1845 hours, Troopers contacted a vehicle parked in the Ninilchik Tesoro parking lot. Troopers contacted Kenneth Mayo, 45 of Anchor Point, in the vehicle. Mayo had an active warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody on the warrant. Subsequent investigation showed that Mayo was on conditions of release in a separate case and had violated those conditions by consuming controlled substances. Mayor was transported and remanded into the Homer jail where he was held pending arraignment.

  Posted on 1/23/2023 5:32:27 PM by DPS\djcox

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• AK23007507

  Location: Anchor Point

  Type: Misuse of Plates

  Dispatch Text:

  On 01/23/2023 at 1854 hours Alaska State Troopers in Anchor Point contacted a motorist stuck in the snow on a pullout on Anchor Point Road.  Investigation determined the driver, Charles Quales III, age 57 from Anchor Point was operating a motor vehicle using the incorrect license plates.  Charles was issued a misdemeanor summons for Misuse of Plates. 

  Posted on 1/23/2023 11:55:33 PM by DPS\dwbozman

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B Detachment

• AK23007268

  Location: Palmer

  Type: Assault 3rd Degree, Assault 4th Degree

  Dispatch Text:

  On 1/23/23, at approximately 0137 hours, Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Post, responded to a residence on Winding Brook Loop in Palmer for a report of a disturbance involving a handgun. Investigation revealed Brandon Love, age 23 of Anchorage, committed the crimes of Assault in the 3rd Degree and Assault in the 4th Degree. Love was arrested and transported to Mat-Su Pre-Trial where he was held without bail pending an arraignment. Alcohol was a factor in this incident.

  Posted on 1/23/2023 5:45:43 AM by DPS\jtabbott

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C Detachment

• AK23005108

  Location: Kotzebue

  Type: SAR

  Dispatch Text:

  FINAL UPDATE 1/25: On January 25, 2023, a North Slope Borough helicopter arrived in Kotzebue with multiple searchers to assist in the search for Thomas Brown. At around 1:30 pm, Brown's body was located 10.5 miles south of Kotzebue near Cape Blossom. Next of kin has been notified.

  Update 1/23: The search for Thomas Brown continued over the weekend into today. Alaska State Troopers and volunteers are continuing to search the area around where Josiah Ballot was found with ground and air assets.

  Update 1/21: The search for Thomas Brown is continuing via ground and air. Josiah Ballot was medevaced to an Anchorage area hospital for medical treatment. Anyone with information about Brown's whereabouts is asked to contact the Alaska State Troopers at (907) 451-5100.

  UPDATE 1/20: On January 20, 2023 at 2:17 pm, a private plane located Josiah Ballot approximately 28 miles south of Kotzebue. The pilot alerted an Alaska Wildlife Trooper in the area. Ballot was suffering from severe frostbite and was transported via a Troopers plane directly to Kotzebue for medical services. The search for Thomas Brown is ongoing via air and land assets.

  Update 1/20: The search for Ballot and Brown continues today. Local search and rescue teams continue to search on the ground, and private aircraft and DPS aircraft are conducting aerial searches. Anyone with information about Ballot and Brown's whereabouts is asked to contact the Alaska State Troopers at (907) 451-5100.

  Original: On January 16, 2023, at 12:29 pm, the Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue Coordinator called Alaska State Troopers to report two people were overdue on a red and black Yamaha snowmachine traveling between Kotzebue and Noorvik. It was reported that Josiah Ballot 18 years old of Selawik and Thomas Brown 18 years old of Ambler, told friends they were leaving Kotzebue at midnight via social media. Messages from the party identified their location in Kotzebue at 3:00 am on January 16, possibly heading to Noorvik. Searchers from Kotzebue, Noorvik, and Selawik conducted ground searches of the trails and coastline in the area. Troopers have flown the Selawik to Noorvik trail and the Noorvik to Kotzebue trail in search of the two men. On January 18, Noorvik, Selawik, and Noatak searchers along with Troopers searched the trails and area between Kotzebue and Noorvik. On January 19, search teams will continue searching for Ballot and Brown via ground and air.

  Posted on 1/19/2023 11:21:43 AM by DPS\jsdougherty . Edited on 1/23/2023 11:59:36 AM by DPS\jsdougherty

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D Detachment

• AK23006972

  Location: Fairbanks

  Type: Stalking Order Violation

  Dispatch Text:

  On January 21, 2023, at approximately 1800 hours, Fairbanks AST received a report of a Stalking Order Violation. Investigation revealed George Romero, age 35 of Fairbanks, violated the order by sending an email to the petitioner in the Stalking Order. Troopers contacted George, who was arrested and remanded to Fairbanks Correctional Center without incident.

  Posted on 1/23/2023 10:06:41 AM by DPS\jdschoeffel

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• AK23007182

  Location: Fairbanks

  Type: Assault in the Forth Degree

  Dispatch Text:

  On 01/22/2023 at about 1438 hours, AST received a report of an altercation near Geist Road in Fairbanks. Upon arrival, AST contacted both participants. Minor injuries were reported by both. Misdemeanor assault charges to be filed. Investigation continues.

  Posted on 1/23/2023 11:58:56 PM by DPS\tmstuart

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E Detachment ...No news reported.

Headquarters ...No news reported.

AK Wildlife Troopers

• AK23007171

  Location: Long Lake- Mi 86 Glenn Hwy

  Type: No Sport Fish License In Possession

  Dispatch Text:

  On 1/22/23, 1446 hours, Palmer AWT contacted Kyle Worley, 34 YOA, of Wasilla, AK, while ice fishing in Long Lake.  Worley did not have a valid 2023 AK Sport Fish License in his possession.  Worley was issued a correctable citation for No Sport Fish License in Possession.  Bail was set at $220.

  Posted on 1/23/2023 10:35:43 AM by DPS\rclysdahl

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• AK23007161

  Location: Long Lake- MI 86 Glenn Hwy

  Type: No Sport Fish License In Possession

  Dispatch Text:

  On 1/22/23, 1438 hours, Palmer AWT contacted Jacob Wojtacha, 20 YOA, of Wasilla, AK, while ice fishing in Long Lake. Wojtacha did not have a valid 2023 AK Sport Fish License in his possession. Wojtacha was issued a correctable citation for No Sport Fish License in Possession. Bail was set at $220.

  Posted on 1/23/2023 10:37:28 AM by DPS\rclysdahl

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AK Bureau of Investigation ...No news reported.

AK Bureau of Highway Patrol ...No news reported.

AK Bureau of Judicial Services ...No news reported.

AK Div of Fire and Life Safety

• AK23007105

  Location: Gakona

  Type: Commercial Structure Fire

  Dispatch Text:

  On January 22, at 2:11 am, The Gakona Volunteer Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at Mile 61 of the Tok Cutoff. The structure on fire was a general store known as Midway Services. The sole occupant and owner of the store was able to safely exit the building with his dogs. Two Department of Public Safety Deputy Fire Marshals responded to the scene to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. The structure is a total loss. The Investigation is ongoing.

  Posted on 1/23/2023 4:02:15 PM by DPS\jsdougherty

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