From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

A four-man stickup crew has been indicted following a string of gunpoint robberies earlier this year in northeast Anchorage, prosecutors say.

Wearing black masks and gloves, the group held shotguns inches from the face of a Mountain View cigarette shop owner during a holdup in January, police say. The men are accused of blasting a shotgun round through the window of a Bragaw Street convenience store during a March robbery and robbing a cabbie and his passenger in April.

Assistant District Attorney James Fayette outlined the accusations today in this prosecution bail memo.

An Anchorage grand jury on Wednesday indicted:

-- Aaron Aasa, 26.
-- Ronald E. Thompson Jr., 18.
-- Brothers Eric Vaifanua, 18, and Faamanu “Junior” Vaifanua, 21.

They are charged with robbing a cigarette shop called Smoke King in north Mountain View on Jan. 20, holding the shopkeeper and his son at gunpoint, prosecutors say. A security camera taped the invasion:

Photos courtesy of the Anchorage police department.

...

From Casey Grove in Anchorage --

Cybercrimes detectives with the Anchorage Police Department worked undercover to catch two local men with child pornography, according to a police spokeswoman.

Both men -- Richard M. O'Conner, 29, and Christopher W. Skotnicki, 20 -- allegedly sent images of child sexual exploitation to undercover detectives, police said. O'Conner and Skotnicki were arrested Wednesday.

Here's the press release police spokeswoman Marlene Lammers sent to reporters this morning:

Two Anchorage Men Arrested for Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

The Anchorage Police Department/Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested two Anchorage residents on July 27, 2011 for Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography.

APD Case 10-49130

29 year old Richard M. O’Connor was arrested by APD and the US Marshals Service and charged with 2 counts of Distribution of Child Pornography (B Felony) and 2 counts of Possession of Child Pornography (C Felony). APD Cyber Crimes Detective Dunn was working in an undercover capacity and received illicit images depicting the sexual abuse of young children from O’Connor. A search warrant was served on O’Connor’s residence where numerous computers and digital media were seized. Forensic examinations of these computers and media revealed hundreds of images and videos of Child Pornography. O’Connor’s bail was initially set at “no bail allowed” and was to be set at his initial arraignment.

APD Case 11-9932

20 year old Christopher W. Skotnicki was arrested, with the assistance of UAA Police and the US Marshals Service, and charged with 1 count of Possession of Child Pornography (C Felony). APD Cyber Crimes Detective Mark Thomas was working in an undercover capacity and received illicit images depicting the sexual abuse of young children from Skotnicki. A search warrant was served in the residence where Skotnicki was living and a computer was seized. A forensic examination of this computer revealed images depicting the sexual exploitation of young children. Skotnicki’s bail was initially set at “No bail allowed” and was to be set at his initial arraignment.

The Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is made up of Local, State, and Federal Agencies who develop effective responses to cyber enticement and child pornography cases. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing. All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty by a court of law.

From Casey Grove in Anchorage --

An Anchorage man faces multiple counts of sexually assaulting children and threatening family members with a sword and knife, according to Anchorage police.

Here's a written statement police sent to reporters this morning:

Subject: Man Arrested For Sexual Assault of Minors
Case Number: 11-33420

Anchorage Police arrested a man after he sexually assaulted two young children who were staying with him during the month of July.

Police were told of the assaults on July 19, 2011, and an investigation began immediately. The investigation revealed that a woman and her four children were homeless and needed a place to stay.

Keone Jason Lee, 28, of Anchorage, offered to let the family stay with him in his travel trailer located on the 1400 block of Marten Street ... Within days of moving in, Lee began sexually abusing an 11 year old girl and her 6 year old sister. Lee threatened to kill friends and family with a 26 inch sword with a sharpened 18 inch blade if the children told of the assaults.

During the course of the investigation, detectives seized Lee’s computer which revealed over 250 images of infant pornography along with pornographic images of other children in a variety of ages. It is unknown if Lee produced the pornography or if it was downloaded from the internet.

Lee was arrested yesterday and charged with 4 counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor, 5 counts of Second Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor and two counts of Third Degree Assault. He was booked into the Anchorage Jail with bail set at $100,000 plus third party custodian.

Detectives believe that Lee may have molested other children he came into contact with. If your child had any contact with Keone Jason Lee and you believe they were sexually assaulted, call APD Detective Chris Thomas at 786-2628.

NOTE: Lee is a registered sex offender. He was convicted of possession of child pornography in 2007, according to the state Department of Public Safety.

Anchorage police were looking for Andrea (pronounced "Andre") Vickers, 22, after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend July 5 in Spenard.

Police said they found their man -- described as a "violent felon" -- Tuesday night at a residence off Runamuck Place, which is northwest of the West Dimond Boulevard overpass over Minnesota Drive.

Here's the statement police emailed to reporters this morning:

Subject – Subject of Manhunt Arrested Without Incident
Case Number – 11-31355

Anchorage Police Department Special Assignments Unit (SWAT), K-9, Vice, Warrants and Patrol units located and arrested Andrea (Andre) Lavelle Vickers on 7-13-11 at 07:06 hours. Vickers, the object of an intensive APD manhunt since 7-8-11 was considered armed and dangerous. There was an outstanding arrest warrant for his detention with bail set at $30,000 on an Assault 2nd degree charge.

The FBI and Anchorage police are looking for the man in the pictures below, who they say robbed an East Anchorage bank on Friday.

Here are the details from the FBI:

- The suspect walked into the First National Bank of Alaska at 5305 East Northern Lights Boulevard about 5 p.m. Friday and demanded cash from a teller.

- He received an undisclosed amount of money and left the bank on foot.

- The alleged robber is described as a thin, white male in his mid-20s to early 30s, standing about 5 feet, 6 inches tall. He wore a blue-gray hooded pullover jacket, a black stocking cap, blue jeans and athletic shoes with red laces, according to the FBI.

Anyone with information on the bank robbery is asked to call the FBI at 276-4441 or Anchorage police at 786-8500.

Anchorage police are looking for Andrea (pronounced "Andre") Vickers, a man they described as "armed and dangerous" in the following statement emailed to reporters this afternoon:

Violent Felon "Andrea Vickers" Sought By Police

Anchorage Police need your help in locating Andrea Lavelle Vickers who has a felony warrant for his arrest for a violent assault.

Vickers is a 22 year-old black male, 5'10", 175 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He is known to be in possession of multiple weapons and is considered armed and dangerous.

Didn't see this coming.

Anchorage police just sent a statement to reporters describing a home invasion burglary in which the suspect took a 3-year-old pug named Snuffy.

We have many questions. Did the suspect and the victim know each other? How did the dog burglar get in the victim's house? Is there more to the story?

Meantime, here's the statement from police:

Subject – Pug Bandit Arrested
Case Number – 11-30929

On 7-5-11 at 06:04 hours Anchorage Police officers responded to the 300 block of South Flower Street to the report of a burglary in which a Pug dog had been stolen. The victim, a 77 year old woman and the owner of “Snuffy,” a 3 year old Pug and “Spooky,” a 9 year old Pug, had called police when she awoke to her dogs barking. She discovered a woman later identified as 39 year old Sherry Smith, standing in her bedroom. She asked Smith what she was doing and Smith responded that she was a friend of the victim’s daughter. The victim told Smith that she had no daughter and to get out of her house, pushing Smith towards the door. Smith snatched “Snuffy” up and left the residence on foot.

From Kyle Hopkins --

Back in late May, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that Lt. Matthias Wholley had been relieved of command of a Coast Guard cutter in Southeast Alaska.

No reason was given at the time.

Today, the agency reveals that Wholley was "intoxicated when he directed his cutter to get underway" on May 30.

Wholley was permanently relieved of command Wednesday. That according to this announcement the Coast Guard just sent to reporters:

Anchorage Police now say that the teenager who was reported abducted in Anchorage yesterday -- prompting a statewide plea for help through the Amber Alert system -- had in fact left her home voluntarily with her boyfriend.

Here's the news release police just sent to reporters. Find our updated story here.

Subject – Kidnap Victim – Update No. 3

On 6-22-11 at 1600 hours Anchorage Police Dispatch was notified that See Moua was kidnapped from her home at 1200 West Dimond. She is a 16 year old female and Dispatch and responding officers were told that she had been removed from her home by force, by a person not known to her mother, and taken away in a white Saturn Vue bearing Alaska plate GCA 157. An AMBER Alert was issued as the known case facts fit the criteria for issuing an AMBER Alert.

The vehicle and its owner were located and investigators soon located See Moua and 20 year old Yang Pao Lee who had been listed as the suspect in the AMBER Alert. When they were interviewed, detectives learned that See Moua and Vang Pao Lee were boyfriend and girlfriend and desired to get married. They claimed to have undergone a Hmong cultural ceremony on 6-21-11 to begin the process of becoming married. See Moua’s parents had interrupted the ceremony and retrieved their daughter because they objected to her relationship with Yang Pao Lee.

On 6-22-11 after See Moua’s father had gone to work, she called Yang Pao Lee and asked him to come take her from her home. Their intent was to resume the lengthy cultural marriage ceremony. Yang Pao Lee came with friends to the Moua residence, entered the home and took See Moua with them. According to See Moua, she went voluntarily. Her mother objected and contacted police using her 13 year old daughter as a Hmong/English translator. She communicated that their daughter had been taken by force from their home by persons unknown to her.

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Know anyone who has been setting fires lately?

The Anchorage Fire Department is asking for help in the investigation into a string of Anchorage and Eagle River area arsons, including intentionally set wildland fires and cars set aflame in Spenard.

The department just sent reporters this news release:

The Anchorage Fire Department has seen an increase in arson fires in the Anchorage/Eagle River areas over the past several weeks. The fires have ranged from vehicles, wildland areas, and other miscellaneous structures. Since April 1, the Anchorage Fire Department has responded on 52 wildland fires, of those 15 have been juvenile related.

The vehicle arsons have been occurring in parked unoccupied vehicles. The majority of these fires have been in the Spenard area. All of (the) fires have originated inside of the vehicles. The Anchorage Fire Department would like to remind everyone that if you park your vehicle park it in a lighted area, make sure all of your personal valuables are removed and lock your doors.

APD officer Jason Allen, who was shot multiple times while in his patrol car in Fairview, addresses the media from a local hospital where he was recovering from his injuries on Jan. 28, 2010. (BILL ROTH / Anchorage Daily News.)

UPDATE:

Anchorage police today doubled the cash reward for information leading to the shooter or shooters of Officer Jason Allen in January of 2010.

Authorities are now offering $50,000 for a tip that ends in an arrest and prosecution.

Police hope the extra money will make the difference in cracking the case, said Police Chief Mark Mew. Mew said police are following leads in the shooting, but declined to talk about the investigation in detail.

Allen, 48, was on Medfra Street about 2 a.m., Jan. 9, 2010 when a car pulled up next to his cruiser and someone started shooting. Five bullets struck Allen. Two shattered a bone in his left arm.

In a brief interview today at police headquarters, Allen said he’d hoped to return to duty earlier this year but couldn’t because of severe nerve damage in his arm.

“All I want is to have that opportunity to serve again,” Allen said. “Sometimes you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.”

Police debated for several months whether to raise the reward amount, Mew said. Tuesday’s announcement was not an indication that the investigation had stalled, he said.

Information gathered from the investigation had filled 33 binders, Mew said. After Allen was shot, the department “declared war” on street-level drug dealing, which led to a spike in drug-related arrests, he said.

Neither Mew nor the detectives working on the case elaborated on why they think Allen’s shooting might have been related to drug activity. “We can’t show our cards," Mew said.

The chief also declined to say whether police believed the shooting targeted Officer Allen or if it was a random attack on a police officer.

“We have had different answers to that question as we follow different leads,” Mew said.

Mew said the investigation would not end without an arrest.

“Law enforcement in Alaska has a long memory,” he said. “We’ll never call it off.”

Tips about the shooting can be given directly to homicide detectives through police dispatch at 786-8900, to Det. Mark Huelskoetter at 786-872 or Detective David Cordie at 786-8679.

ORIGINAL POST:

From Casey Grove in Anchorage --

Anchorage police plan to "substantially" raise the reward for information leading to the shooter or shooters of APD Officer Jason Allen in January of 2010.

The reward is currently $25,000. Police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker declined to say what the new figure will be. Police Chief Mark Mew is scheduled to make the announcement at 1 p.m. today at police headquarters.

Allen, 48, was on Medfra Street about 2 a.m., January 9, 2010 when a car pulled up next to his cruiser and an unknown person started shooting. Five bullets hit Allen, including two that shattered a bone in his left arm.

Related: Bulletproof vest, shooter's bad aim saved officer in January attack (April 10, 2010)

This today from Anchorage police:

Anchorage Police need your help to solve a burglary that occurred at the "907 Paintball" fields, located at 769 Klatt Road.

NOTE: Reporter Casey Grove is at the Anchorage courthouse this morning for closing arguments in the trial of Kenneth Dion, accused of raping and killing 18-year-old Bonnie Craig in 1994 . His notes from the courtroom:

The defense: No murder weapon, no murder

3 p.m. UPDATE:

The case is now in the hands of the jury of nine men and three women. They're expected to begin deliberations tomorrrow.

NOTE: Reporter Casey Grove is at the Anchorage courthouse today for the murder trial of Kenneth Dion, accused of killing 18-year-old Bonnie Craig in 1994. His notes from the trial:

Jurors and onlookers today watched video of a police interview with Dion conducted in New Hampshire in 2007, after detectives matched his DNA to sperm found inside Craig. It was the first time anyone attending the trial had heard Dion's deep voice and East Coast accent.

Byron Syvinski is surrounded by neighbors after he allegedly assaulted 7-year-old Am-Marie Martin, Sunday. (Photo by Megan Olson and Kurtis Klawiter)

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Anchorage police just sent this notice to reporters:

Suspect Arrested After Being Released from Hospital

The man accused of assaulting a 7-year-old girl on Sunday afternoon has been arrested.

Anchorage Police reported that they have arrested the man responsible for assaulting Am-marie Martin in front of her home on the 3300 block of Eide Street around 4:45 p.m. The suspect, Byron Edward Syvinski, was taken to a local hospital following the attack and had been hospitalized until today. Upon his release this afternoon, Syvinski was transported to APD Headquarters where he was interviewed by detectives regarding his actions. He was ultimately served with the outstanding warrant relating to the incident.

The warrant charges Syvinski with third degree assault, fourth degree assault, and first degree robbery. He was transported to the Anchorage Jail with no bail set. Syvinski will be arraigned tomorrow at the Anchorage Jail Court.

Note that police often wait to arrest an injured suspect until after he or she is released from the hospital in order to avoid paying the medical bills.

We'll have more on this case soon. One fact from the court records today: Syvinski is 6-feet tall and weighs 200 pounds.

Syvinski in a photo from his MySpace page.

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

A man found dead June 2 in an Anchorage home had been wounded in what police are describing as a series of alcohol-fueled fights at the residence, detectives say.

Here's what authorities say they know:

-- At least nine people, 15 to 22-years-old, were at the home at 7640 Little Bend Circle in the early morning hours last Thursday.

-- Timothy Nickoli, 20, was hurt in an "altercation" at the residence.

-- Just after 5 a.m., someone at the house had called to report Nickoli dead.

Police have interviewed some of the people who were at the home, but said today they are looking for one person in particular: Adolph Ayaprun, 19.

Ayaprun

Detectives are hoping to talk to Ayaprun, who police describe as a witness in the case, and ask anyone who knows where he is to call 786-8900.

We're talking with police and plan to update this story soon.

NOTE: Reporter Casey Grove is at the courthouse today for the continuing trial of Kenneth Dion, accused of raping and killing 18-year-old Bonnie Craig. Here are his notes:

A former medical examiner who conducted the autopsy of Bonnie Craig's body after the teenager was found dead at McHugh Creek in 1994 continued his testimony today for his third day on the witness stand.

Kip Lynch, top, wife Racquell, lower right, and daughter Kyirsta, left. Photo courtesy Lynch family

An Anchorage jury today found Kip Lynch guilty of murder for killing his 19-year-old wife and infant daughter in 2010.

The Fort Richardson soldier was convicted of shooting his family with a .45-caliber handgun in a South Anchorage apartment. He then shot himself, police believe, but survived the wound.

The jury found Lynch, 22, guilty of:

-- Both first-degree and second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Racquell Lynch.

-- Second-degree murder in the death of his 8-month-old daughter, Kyirsta.

Lynch fired on his wife and infant with a gun commemorating his deployment to Afghanistan, police and prosecutors said. He then put the gun under his chin and pulled the trigger.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

t: Army Specialist Kip Lynch is arraigned July 23, 2010, in front of Judge Peter Ashman at the Nesbett Courthouse. (BOB HALLINEN / Anchorage Daily News)

By RACHEL D'ORO
The Associated Press

A former Anchorage police officer accused of identity theft and of being an illegal immigrant has pleaded guilty to federal charges.

Rafael Mora-Lopez, who was born in Mexico and lived for years in Alaska as Rafael Espinoza, appeared Wednesday in federal court in Anchorage, where he pleaded guilty to charges of passport fraud and false claim of U.S. citizenship.

Kenneth Dion is seated with his defense team during opening arguments of his murder trial in an Anchorage Superior courtroom on Tuesday. To catch up on the mystery of Craig's death, read one of our most complete accounts of what was known at the time. (BILL ROTH / Anchorage Daily News)

NOTE: Reporter Casey Grove is at the cold case murder trial of Kenneth Dion, accused of killing 18-year-old Bonnie Craig in 1994. His notes today from the courtroom:

NOON UPDATE:

Defense attorney Andrew Lambert's opening statement took about an hour-and-a-half. He said Dion and Craig had consensual sex and Craig later fell down the cliff at McHugh Creek, striking her head on rocks on the way down and dying within 15 minutes.

Dion was never at McHugh Creek and did not have sex with Craig at the creek, Lambert told the jury. He did not offer any details from Dion's memory about when or where the alleged consensual sex occurred.

Aside from the DNA evidence -- Dion's semen found in Craig's body -- Lambert attacked every part of the state's case today as jurors heard Dion's side of the story.

The defense attorney told jurors that:

-- There's no evidence from any witnesses that they saw Craig with a red-haired man like Dion before her death, or that anyone saw Dion near her house or the crime scene.