Drugs

Kenneth Kitka, 65, is taken into custody following a nearly three-hour standoff with police at a downtown Juneau residence on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Man arrested after downtown standoff faces 10 criminal charges as drugs, cash, handguns seized

Kenneth Kitka, 65, has previous history of drug charges as new case gets first hearing Friday.

 

A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau grand jury indicts six people in Southeast Alaska drug distribution investigation

Illegal activity based in Petersburg, one suspect arrested in Juneau, according to police.

 

Rows of tour buses are parked Thursday next to a city-owned warehouse, at left, a portion of which is scheduled to open as a winter warming shelter starting Friday night. Some businesses managers and employees in the area say people experiencing homelessness have been found sleeping on busses and engaging in other disruptive activity, which is prompting an increase in security and other precautions in preparation for the shelter’s opening. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Security and other impacts of winter warming shelter on nearby businesses raise concerns

Resident near Mill Campground says illegal activity surged, worries about same as shelter opens.

Rows of tour buses are parked Thursday next to a city-owned warehouse, at left, a portion of which is scheduled to open as a winter warming shelter starting Friday night. Some businesses managers and employees in the area say people experiencing homelessness have been found sleeping on busses and engaging in other disruptive activity, which is prompting an increase in security and other precautions in preparation for the shelter’s opening. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon ahead of his retirement slated for Monday, July 31.

Police chief talks recruitment woes, threat of illegal drugs ahead of retirement

Ed Mercer gives his final talk to the Chamber days before his departure from department.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon ahead of his retirement slated for Monday, July 31.
This March 10 photo shows drugs seized by police. A Juneau man was arrested Thursday on felony drug charges and police seized several types of drugs with a street value of $32,650, plus nearly $50,000 in cash. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Juneau man arrested for distributing multiple types of drugs

Narcotics seized have an estimated value of more than $30,000.

This March 10 photo shows drugs seized by police. A Juneau man was arrested Thursday on felony drug charges and police seized several types of drugs with a street value of $32,650, plus nearly $50,000 in cash. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The City and Borough of Juneau Harbormaster Enforcement vessel drives past the Dusky Rock which sits at Aurora Harbor. The vessel was towed there from Sandy beach Friday evening after three people died within a three-day period aboard the vessel while anchored offshore. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Three people found dead on boat anchored off Sandy Beach

Drug use a possible factor in deaths of one man and two women during three-day span

The City and Borough of Juneau Harbormaster Enforcement vessel drives past the Dusky Rock which sits at Aurora Harbor. The vessel was towed there from Sandy beach Friday evening after three people died within a three-day period aboard the vessel while anchored offshore. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
File Photo

Washington woman arrested for sourcing drugs distributed to Juneau in 2022

“I think this will make a difference in the amount of drugs flowing into our community.”

File Photo
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police: 2 arrested after 5,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, fentanyl seized

Juneau man and woman arrested on felony charges.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This April photo shows the Juneau International Airport. On Tuesday two Juneau residents were arrested on multiple drug-related charges at the airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
This April photo shows the Juneau International Airport. On Tuesday two Juneau residents were arrested on multiple drug-related charges at the airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
A Juneau man was arrested for possession of drugs in Harris Harbor on Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau man arrested at harbor for drug possession

Law enforcement personnel waited till the man picked up the package before arresting him.

A Juneau man was arrested for possession of drugs in Harris Harbor on Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This April photo shows the Juneau International Airport. On Saturday a woman was arrested on multiple drug-related charges at the airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Police seize drugs at airport

The estimated value was more than $100,000.

This April photo shows the Juneau International Airport. On Saturday a woman was arrested on multiple drug-related charges at the airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum, speaks at a news conference with Gov. Mike Dunleavy about the state's efforts to combat the increase in drug overdoses driven by the synthetic opioid fentanyl, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Screenshot)
Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum, speaks at a news conference with Gov. Mike Dunleavy about the state's efforts to combat the increase in drug overdoses driven by the synthetic opioid fentanyl, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Screenshot)
An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs

Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs

The regional organization has members from a number of law enforcement agencies.

Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs
Juneau police arrest man for weapons misconduct, possession of drugs

Juneau police arrest man for weapons misconduct, possession of drugs

The man was located Wednesday morning with heroin and methamphetamine.

Juneau police arrest man for weapons misconduct, possession of drugs
Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire                                 Substance misuse costs the state of Alaska $3.45 billion every year, according to a report released recently by the McDowell Group.
Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire                                 Substance misuse costs the state of Alaska $3.45 billion every year, according to a report released recently by the McDowell Group.
‘Justice shouldn’t create more victims’: Former prisoners preach patience for SB 91
‘Justice shouldn’t create more victims’: Former prisoners preach patience for SB 91
Opinion: Solving the opioid epidemic starts with cracking down on fentanyl

Opinion: Solving the opioid epidemic starts with cracking down on fentanyl

It’s a problem we can solve with smart and proactive policy choices.

Opinion: Solving the opioid epidemic starts with cracking down on fentanyl
Andy Jones, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Office of Substance Misuse, right, speak about the fiscal impacts of the opioids on the state along with Michael Duxbury, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, center, and Laura Brooks, Director of Health and Rehabilitation for the Department of Corrections, in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Andy Jones, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Office of Substance Misuse, right, speak about the fiscal impacts of the opioids on the state along with Michael Duxbury, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, center, and Laura Brooks, Director of Health and Rehabilitation for the Department of Corrections, in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)