Alaska State Troopers Press Release of Thursday, July 10, 2025
Any charges reported in these press releases are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A Detachment
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TBD
Location: SterlingType: Missing JuvenileDispatch Text:
UPDATE 5:45 pm: Hannah has been located safe. Thank you to everyone for their assistance.
ORIGINAL: The Alaska State Troopers are looking for 12-year-old Hannah Maroda. She was last seen today just before 5pm wearing a unicorn nightgown near mile 78 of the Sterling Highway, which is in the Sterling area. Hannah is 5’2”, 104 pounds, and is nonverbal. If you see Hannah, please contact the Alaska State Troopers at (907) 262-4453.
Posted on 7/10/2025 5:38:57 PM by DPS\ajmcdaniel
B Detachment
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AK25067311
Location: GlennallenType: Death InvestigationDispatch Text:
On 07/10/2025 Glennallen AST responded to an expected home death in the Glennallen area. Investigation revealed that a juvenile passed away from natural causes. Next of kin was on scene and the remains were released to the family.
Posted on 7/10/2025 12:35:21 PM by DPS\dtmcweeney
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AK25067085
Location: PalmerType: Warrant ArrestDispatch Text:
On 07/10/2025 at approximately 0830 hours, Court Services Officers assigned to Palmer Judicial Services arrested Sean M. Altman, age 50, of North Pole on an outstanding arrest warrant for Assault in the Third Degree. Altman was served with the warrant while in-custody at Matsu Pretrial Facility in Palmer on unrelated charges. Bail was set at $1,000 cash appearance.
Posted on 7/10/2025 10:48:28 AM by DPS\mtshelley
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AK25067387
Location: TalkeetnaType: Domestic ViolenceDispatch Text:
On 7/10/2025 at approximately 1207 hours, the Alaska State Troopers in Palmer received a 911 open line call of a domestic incident in progress. Troopers responded to the location and identified Jonathan Hensley (48YOA) had repeatedly assaulted his significant other. Jonathan was arrested for Assault in the 4th degree and transported to Mat-Su Pretrial, where he was held per the bail schedule.
Posted on 7/10/2025 3:36:20 PM by DPS\cnfouts
C Detachment
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AK25067148
Location: AlakanukType: Death InvestigationDispatch Text:
On July 9, 2025, at around 5:09 pm, the Alaska State Troopers were notified that a body was found floating in the slough near the village of Alakanuk. Troopers responded to the village. Investigation by Troopers and Alakanuk Village Police determined that the deceased individual was 37-year-old Alakanuk resident Benjamin Edmund. Edmund had not been seen for multiple days and had not been reported as missing to Troopers prior to his body being discovered. Edmund’s body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. Next of kin have been notified.
Posted on 7/10/2025 9:57:15 AM by DPS\ajmcdaniel
D Detachment
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AK25067245
Location: FairbanksType: Assault 2, Assault 4, Criminal Mischief 5Dispatch Text:
On 07/10//2025 at 0002 hours Troopers responded to a domestic disturbance call involving Cody Walters. An investigation was conducted, and probable cause was established to arrest Cody Walters for Assault 2, Assault 4, and Criminal Mischief 5. He was transported to FCC for remand.
Posted on 7/10/2025 5:35:46 AM by DPS\hrchurness
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AK25066457
Location: FairbanksType: Sexual Assault InvestigationDispatch Text:
This week, the Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks Police Department arrested Gareth Ward for allegedly sexually assaulting multiple juveniles in the Fairbanks area.
On July 8, 2025, at 2:29 am, Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks received a request for a welfare check on an underage female. AST responded to the location in North Pole and made contact with a male subject exiting a vehicle who was identified as Gareth Ward, age 44 of Fairbanks. The teenage juvenile female was also located in the vehicle. Investigation revealed that Ward met the female on social media the day prior and offered her a job. He picked her up and transported her to the location and sexually assaulted her after forcing her to smoke methamphetamine.
Fairbanks Police Officers began their investigation into a separate sexual assault on July 4, 2025, after a teenage juvenile female victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted. The report stated that an unknown man approached her in a vehicle and offered her a ride. She accepted, but instead of taking her to where she requested, the man drove her to a storage unit where he sexually assaulted her. On July 9, FPD detectives were contacted by an Alaska State Troopers investigator who had arrested Gareth Ward. The FPD victim positively identified Ward in a photo lineup, and detectives confirmed evidence placing Ward at the storage unit where the assault occurred.
Gareth Ward has been charged with three counts of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree related to the FPD case. Alaska State Troopers charged Ward with Sexual Assault in the First Degree and Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the First Degree.
These cases are being prosecuted by the Fairbanks District Attorney’s Office.
This investigation is still ongoing, and investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact troopers at (907) 451-5100 and reference case number AK25066457.
Posted on 7/10/2025 5:00:09 PM by DPS\ajmcdaniel
E Detachment ...No news reported.
Headquarters ...No news reported.
AK Wildlife Troopers
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AK25067532
Location: AnchorageType: SnaggingDispatch Text:
On 07/10/2025 at approximately 1630 hours, AWT contacted a 50yoa female snagging salmon in Campbell Creek. The female was identified as Debora Wani from Anchorage. Wani’s salmon was seized, and she was issued a citation for snagging in freshwater.
Posted on 7/10/2025 6:21:55 PM by DPS\sthumphreys
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AK25067566
Location: Prince William SoundType: Commercial FishingDispatch Text:
On 07/03/2025 at approximately 1150 hours, AWT Troopers observed commercial fishing vessel “Savage” anchoring its net to the beach during the driftnet salmon opener in the Coghill District. AWT contacted the captain and identified him as Mihael Kuzmin age 32 out of Homer. Kuzmin was issued a mandatory court appearance to appear on August 1, 2025 in Anchorage court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 6:52:50 PM by DPS\sthumphreys
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AK25067577
Location: Prince William SoundType: Commercial FishingDispatch Text:
On 07/03/2025 at approximately 1300 hours, AWT Troopers observed commercial fishing vessel “Drifter” anchoring its net to the beach during the driftnet salmon opener in the Coghill District. AWT contacted the captain and identified him as Fred Matveev age 61 out of Anchorage. Matveev was issued a mandatory court appearance to appear on August 1, 20205 in Anchorage court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 6:59:47 PM by DPS\sthumphreys
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AK25067581
Location: Prince William SoundType: Boater SafetyDispatch Text:
On 07/05/2025 AWT contacted a skiff in Main Bay, PWS with 7 occupants on board. The captain, identified as 35 yoa Tyler Yoder from Anchorage, was not in possession of a life preserver for each person on board. Yoder was issued a boater safety citation.
Posted on 7/10/2025 7:13:19 PM by DPS\sthumphreys
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AK25066949
Location: DillinghamType: Gillnet Specifications- Over length NetDispatch Text:
On July 8, 2025 Danny Togiak age 62 from Aleknagik was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program for negligently operating an over length set gillnet. Arraignment is set for August 5, 2025 at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 11:28:08 AM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25065968
Location: NAKNEK-KVICHAK DISTRICTType: COMMERCIAL FISH CLOSED PERIODDispatch Text:
On July 6, 2025, Lee S Clark, 68 years old from Naselle, Washington was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Salmon Enforcement Program for Commercial Fish Closed Period in the Naknek-Kvichak District. Arraignment is scheduled in Naknek District Court on August 6, 2025.
Posted on 7/10/2025 11:50:21 AM by DPS\sdcubbedge1
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AK25066805
Location: DillinghamType: Commercial Fishing Closed PeriodDispatch Text:
On July 8, 2025 Damian Serebrekoff age 25 from Homer was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program for commercial fishing during a closed period. Arraignment is set for August 5, 2025 at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 12:04:19 PM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25065841
Location: DillinghamType: Commercial Fishing Closed PeriodDispatch Text:
On July 6, 2025 Ludwig Johnson age 56 from Dillingham and Michael Nerguson age 37 from Dillingham were cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program for commercial fishing during a closed period. Arraignment is set for August 4, 2025 at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 8:27:19 AM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25067120
Location: GlennallenType: Fishing closed periodDispatch Text:
On 7/9/25, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers conducted a patrol of the Chitina Sub-district of the Copper River to enforce an emergency order published by ADF&G. Troopers cited six individuals for fishing during the period closure.
Posted on 7/10/2025 8:31:54 AM by DPS\jmmcginnis
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AK25066368
Location: DillinghamType: No PFDsDispatch Text:
On July 7, 2025 Ivan Miller age 21 from Blakesburg, IA was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program fro operating a vessel not equipped with personal flotation devices. Bail is set at $170 due at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 9:15:37 AM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25066957
Location: DillinghamType: Gear IdentificationDispatch Text:
On July 8, 2025 Larry Bartman age 60 from Manokotak was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program for failing to display permit numbers on set gillnet buoys. Bail is set at $270 due at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 9:33:26 AM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25062509
Location: DillinghamType: Commercial Fish Closed WatersDispatch Text:
On June 27, 2025 Eric Debruin age 39 from Houston, TX was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program for commercial fishing in closed waters. Arraignment is set for August 4, 2025 at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 12:43:56 PM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25065226
Location: DillinghamType: Gillnet Specifications- Over length NetDispatch Text:
On July 4, 2025 Morris Lopez age 60 from Dillingham was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program for negligently operating an over length drift gillnet. Arraignment is scheduled for August 5, 2025 at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 12:59:45 PM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25064411
Location: NAKNEK-KVICHAK BAYType: COMMERCIAL FISH CLOSED WATERSDispatch Text:
On July 5, 2025, Murray Buys 65 years old from Antioch, California and Kelton Lachelt 24 years old from Henderson, Nevada were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Salmon Enforcement Program for Commercial Fish Closed Waters in Naknek-Kvichak Bay. Arraignment is scheduled in Naknek District Court on August 6, 2025.
Posted on 7/10/2025 1:01:26 PM by DPS\sdcubbedge1
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AK25065672
Location: DillinghamType: Gillnet Specifications- Over length NetDispatch Text:
On July 5, 2025 Dimitry Kuzmin age 48 from Homer and Georgi Samoilov age 23 from Wasilla were cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Enforcement Program for using an over length drift gillnet. Arraignment is scheduled for August 4, 2025 at the Dillingham District Court.
Posted on 7/10/2025 10:23:21 AM by DPS\fdmccammon
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AK25063807
Location: UGASHIK BAYType: COMMERCIAL FISH CLOSED WATERSDispatch Text:
On June 30, 2025, John C Ford 41 years old from Del Mar, California was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers during the Bristol Bay Salmon Enforcement Program for Commercial Fish Closed Waters in Ugashik Bay. Arraignment is scheduled in Naknek District Court on August 6, 2025.
Posted on 7/10/2025 2:48:20 PM by DPS\sdcubbedge1
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AK25066890
Location: AnchorageType: Sportfish Closed PeriodDispatch Text:
On 07/09/2025 at approximately 0720 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Anchorage contacted Elmer Bungay, age 56 of Anchorage, while fishing in Campbell Creek near Folker Street in Anchorage. That section of the river is closed until July 14th for all sportfishing. Bungay was issued a bailable citation for sportfishing during a closed period.
Posted on 7/10/2025 3:20:40 PM by DPS\dbledford
AK Bureau of Investigation
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AK25061340
Location: AnchorageType: SOR ComplianceDispatch Text:
On June 25 through June 27, 2025, a joint agency operation was conducted in Anchorage focusing on sex offenders and Sex Offender Registry (SOR) requirement compliance. The operation consisted of members from the Alaska Bureau of Investigation Technical Crime Unit, ABI FCU, ABI Major Crimes (Palmer), Alaska State Troopers, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshal Service, Alaska Adult Probations, DPS Sex Offender Registry, and the Department of Revenue. The operation successfully contacted 32 SOR registrants to verify compliance requirements were being met. Subsequently Taylor Bishop, age 39 of Anchorage, Andrew Yang age, 33 of Anchorage, Charles Turner III, age 27 of Anchorage, Joshua Hurley, age 37 of Anchorage were arrested for SOR non-compliance. Joseph Benedicto, age 47 of Anchorage was charged at a later time. All were charged with Perjury and Failure to Register II and remanded to the Anchorage Correctional Complex on no bail.
Posted on 7/10/2025 1:04:32 PM by DPS\tjdespain
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