A village public safety officer in Kake has been fired following his arrest in late August after he reportedly assaulted a woman and possessed a weapon while intoxicated off-duty.
Austin Brady, 28, was arrested on felony second- and third-degree assault, misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal mischief, and fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon, according to the state court system. Brady is out on a $2,500 bail posted Tuesday.
Brady was terminated from his position by his employer, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska following his arrest and charges, according to Tlingit and Haida Communications Coordinator Raeanne Holmes. Brady was employed by Tlingit and Haida after he graduated from law enforcement training in Sitka in November 2022.
“Brady’s employment was terminated following his arrest and criminal charges filed by the Alaska Department of Public Safety,” she wrote in an email response. “Tlingit and Haida terminated Mr. Brady the same day he was charged.”
Brady’s arrest on Aug. 29 came after troopers received the report of the assault of a woman in Kake at about 8:12 a.m., according to the dispatch. However, poor weather prevented troopers from landing their flight to the village by a chartered plane.
Later, with assistance from the Petersburg Police Department, troopers were able to respond via the police department’s patrol vessel at about 2:30 p.m. that afternoon, where they contacted Brady, according to the dispatch.
“Further investigation revealed that Brady had assaulted the female and possessed a firearm while intoxicated,” the dispatch states.
Since Brady’s arrest, Holmes said two VPSOs have been dispatched to Kake to provide coverage. Brady has since appeared at the Petersburg Courthouse for a first appearance, arraignment and bail hearing. A preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 18 was vacated.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651) 528-1807.
