In Sitka, last month saw multiple indictments for serious criminal offenses, ranging from reckless driving to forgery and sex abuse, according to local authorities.
The month began with an incident on March 8, when Officer Parker White attempted to stop James Glenn Thompson, aged 47, for a traffic violation on Sawmill Creek Road. Instead of complying, Thompson reportedly accelerated his vehicle along Smith Street at high speeds, endangering nearby pedestrians and motorists. After running a stop sign and nearly causing a collision, Thompson eventually halted. However, he reportedly resisted arrest, leading to further charges.
A grand jury later indicted Thompson on March 14 for failing to stop at the direction of a peace officer, resisting arrest, and reckless driving. Thompson remains detained at Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau, awaiting a trial set for May.
Later in March, on the 18th, Sitka Police arrested Joshua Alan Connelly, 35, following a report from a local liquor store about a counterfeit $100 bill marked for use in motion pictures. Investigations revealed that Connelly had tried to use a similar counterfeit bill at another store shortly before his arrest. On March 28, he was indicted for first-degree forgery and is also held at Lemon Creek Correctional Center, with his trial scheduled for June.
On the same day, the grand jury brought charges against Tyler Calvin Eells, 39, for second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, and Gilbert Sam Jr., 35, for failing to register as a sex offender. Both men are currently out on bail, with their trials also set for early June.
