TROOPER REPORT

The Alaska State Troopers reported the following incidents. Any charges reported are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Man crashes car into Post Office stairway, arrested for DUI

Photo: Ken Smith/Turnagain Times GIRDWOOD—On Tuesday, April 14, at approximately 11:51 a.m., a Trooper responded to a motor vehicle crash at the Girdwood Post Office. James Russell Burd, a 69-year-old Girdwood resident, had driven his Subaru station wagon up onto the stairs of the post office, crashing into the handrail. Troopers conducted an investigation and found Burd had an alcohol level of .118. Burd was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and taken to an Anchorage jail on $250 cash bond. Burd was not injured in the accident and was wearing his seat belt, reported Trooper Lewis, who responded to the call. Lewis said Burd claimed he hit the accelerator instead of the break, causing his vehicle to crash into the stairway and handrail. Damage to the car was estimated at $500.

DUI
GIRDWOOD—On April 3, at approximately 1:36 p.m., a Trooper responded to mile 81 of the Seward Highway for a report of a vehicle in the ditch. The operator of the vehicle was identified as Michael R. Howard, age 33, of Anchorage. Howard was found to be operating the vehicle while impaired by alcohol. Howard was arrested for DUI and later transported to and remanded into the Anchorage Jail with bail set at $250 cash/corporate and release to sober third party.

Snowmachiner’s Body Found
JOHNSON PASS—On Saturday, April 4, a team of 40 search and rescue people found the body of snowmachiner Yancy Flair. Searchers found the 35-year-old Flair’s body buried beneath 6 feet of snow in Johnson Pass. Flair was caught in an avalanche on March 28 near the confluences of Divide and Center Creeks. Friends and family members of Flair assisted in the search. One friend provided high-powered metal detectors, which aided in locating Flair’s snowmachine beneath approximately 4 feet of snow, Troopers reported.

Driving with a Suspended License/No Motor Vehicle Insurance
COOPER LANDING—On April 7, at 2:24 p.m. a Trooper stopped a vehicle at mile 44 of the Sterling Hwy for a traffic violation. The driver Kyle Mercer, 20 years of age of Kenai, was subsequently arrested for Driving with a Suspended Drivers License and Driving without Motor Vehicle Insurance. Mercer was transported to the Seward Jail and remanded without incident.

Domestic Assault 4th Degree
GIRDWOOD—On April 11, at approximately 5:39 p.m., Troopers responded to the Alyeska Resort Hotel for the report of a domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, Karma Sherk, age 25 of
Kenai, was arrested on the charge of Assault 4th Degree. A bail hearing was later held in which she was released on her own recognizance.

Two Counts of Domestic Assault 4th Degree
GIRDWOOD—On April 11, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Troopers Domestic Assault 4th Degree X 2 a Trooper from Girdwood responded to the Alyeska Resort Hotel for a report of a domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, Nelson Hardon, age 49 of Anchorage, was arrested for two counts of Assault 4th Degree. Hardon was transported to and lodged at the Anchorage Jail.

Driving with a Suspended License
GIRDWOOD—On April 12, at around 7 p.m., a Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a red Dodge Pickup near mile 91 of the Seward Highway for speeding 85 mph in a 65 mph zone. The section of the
Seward Highway is within the Highway Safety Corridor. An investigation revealed the driver Valeri Sheahan, age 24 of Anchorage, was driving the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Sheahan was summons to appear in court on the charge of DWSOL and released at the scene. The vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

Possession of Marijuana
COOPER LANDING—On April 12, at 4:20 p.m., Troopers stopped a vehicle near mile 44 of the Sterling Highway for a traffic violation. An investigation showed that Kendra Howland, 20 of Soldotna, was in possession of marijuana and had recently consumed marijuana. Howland was cited to appear in court at a later date and released at the scene.