JPD serves search warrant on Barrett residence

Juneau Police Department officers raided a third residence in less than a month within a two-block radius of Fourth, Harris and Gold streets Tuesday.

Officers spent the morning searching the residence of James Barrett at 401 Harris Street; Barrett is the son of Kathleen Barrett, the legal owner of all three houses as well as the Bergmann Hotel, which was boarded up by the city in March.

Barrett and an unidentified woman were handcuffed and being detained and questioned by officers as the warrant search was being conducted. As of mid-morning, no arrests had been made. Officers could be seen examining a shotgun that had been found inside the residence.

The search took place just weeks after local, state and federal officers searched two neighboring houses on Fourth Street that are owned by Breffni Properties, Kathleen Barrett’s company. On Aug. 4, JPD officers searched the house at 423 Fourth St., with assistance from the State Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Several men who had been staying at the house on a visit said the warrant was for a stolen shotgun, but they did not believe any was located. No arrests were made, JPD Lt. David Campbell said at the time, adding that there is an ongoing investigation.

Then, on Aug. 9, JPD and the FBI assisted in a search at 427 Fourth St., with the U.S. Postal Service as the lead investigating agency. Two residents of that house, Christian John Peters, 44, and Tiffany Jo Spaulding, 34, are facing drug conspiracy charges after allegedly having oxycodone and methamphetamine shipped to the house by mail.

Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.

James Barrett sits handcuffed in front of his house at 401 Harris Street as Juneau police officers search the residence on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau police and Alaska State Troopers search James Barrett’s house at 401 Harris Street on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

James Barrett is handcuffed and questioned by police while his house at 401 Harris Street is searched on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)