Drugs in Juneau

Juneau Police Department Police Chief Ed Mercer, right, and Lt. Jeremy Weske speak at the Juneau Police Station about the department receiving new funding for drug enforcement on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. Alaska has been designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Feds to help fund Juneau’s drug enforcement efforts

Help is on the way.

 

Dave d’Amato, an attorney working for Kathleen Barrett, spends Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, boarding up the house at 401 Harris Street. The house was vacated after a judge ordered its residents (including co-owner James Barrett) to leave due to code and safety violations. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
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Looking back at the year in crime

Public safety was a hot topic all year.

 

Conspirators sentenced in Juneau, Ketchikan drug cases

Conspirators sentenced in Juneau, Ketchikan drug cases

A meth-filled teddy bear was involved in one case.

 

Police ID Thanksgiving shooting suspect

Police ID Thanksgiving shooting suspect

The victim is in stable condition.

Police ID Thanksgiving shooting suspect
Buck Robert Mills, 39, escaped from Pretrial Enforcement Division supervision last week and Alaska State Troopers are searching for him. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska State Troopers)

Troopers look for man on the run

He’s awaiting trial for attempting to smuggle drugs into prison.

Buck Robert Mills, 39, escaped from Pretrial Enforcement Division supervision last week and Alaska State Troopers are searching for him. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska State Troopers)
Metro Creative Connection stock image

Commercial fishing couple sentenced to year in prison for tax evasion

A Southeast Alaska husband and wife were sentenced to a year in prison for not paying taxes.

Metro Creative Connection stock image
A drug user kits with clean syringes at the Four A’s office on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Juneau’s Four A’s office in Juneau is in danger of closing because of a lack of funding, and are employing a crowdfunding approach to try and gain $15,000 by Oct. 15. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Syringe exchange in danger of going under

More than 100 people regularly use the syringe exchange, but the program could fold at the end of the year.

A drug user kits with clean syringes at the Four A’s office on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Juneau’s Four A’s office in Juneau is in danger of closing because of a lack of funding, and are employing a crowdfunding approach to try and gain $15,000 by Oct. 15. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
William Musser waves to passing cars on the Douglas Bridge on Saturday, Sept. 22, during the Hands Across the Bridge event, which aims to spread awareness about substance use recovery in Juneau. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

A bridge away from stigma

A few dozen gathered on Saturday on the Douglas Bridge, holding hands in an outstretched line at the bridge’s apex. Together, they recited a verse.… Continue reading

William Musser waves to passing cars on the Douglas Bridge on Saturday, Sept. 22, during the Hands Across the Bridge event, which aims to spread awareness about substance use recovery in Juneau. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Feds sentence Southeast drug conspirators

Feds sentence Southeast drug conspirators

Co-conspirators in multiple drug cases were sentenced in federal court this week.

Feds sentence Southeast drug conspirators
Man indicted after Customs intercepts drug shipments

Man indicted after Customs intercepts drug shipments

A Juneau man was indicted earlier this month for shipping drugs into Juneau from China, according to the indictment.

Man indicted after Customs intercepts drug shipments
Valley resident facing meth distribution charges

Valley resident facing meth distribution charges

A Juneau man is facing felony charges after he admitted to intending to distribute methamphetamine in Juneau.

Valley resident facing meth distribution charges
Methamphetamine seized by law enforcement sits next to a bottle of baby powder for scale. (Courtesy Photo | Department of Public Safety)

Meth use surging throughout state, in Juneau

The amount of methamphetamine use in Alaska has been surging.

Methamphetamine seized by law enforcement sits next to a bottle of baby powder for scale. (Courtesy Photo | Department of Public Safety)
Carrie Amott, a peer support coordinator at JAMHI Health & Wellness Inc., talks about an upcoming Juneau Recovery Fest 2018 to be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Centennial Hall. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Local organizations prepare to celebrate recovery, combat stigma

For those who are in recovery from a substance use disorder, a little bit of positivity can go a long way. This month, in celebration… Continue reading

Carrie Amott, a peer support coordinator at JAMHI Health & Wellness Inc., talks about an upcoming Juneau Recovery Fest 2018 to be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Centennial Hall. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)