A Juneau man who allegedly threatened to cut the throats of two people was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of third-degree assault.
Andrew Steven Harper, 44, was reported to be intoxicated and causing a disturbance in the parking lot of the Airport Apartments on April 3 when a resident asked him to leave the area, according to charging court documents.
Harper began cursing at her and then shoved her, challenging her to a fight, the complaint alleges. Another resident came to her aid, displaying a Taser. Harper then reached into his waistband and pulled out a 12-inch knife, waving it around and telling the woman he would “cut your throat and watch you bleed.” When he began approaching her, she left to get a cellphone to call 911, the complaint stated.
Harper then began “coming at” the male victim, threatening him with the knife and saying he would cut his throat. The man told police that Harper challenged him to a fight, coming within 6 feet. After the male victim repeatedly activated his Taser to deter a potential attack, Harper began walking away.
Juneau Police Department Officer Kirt Stage-Harvey contacted Harper a short distance away and he complied with commands to throw the knife away, removing it from his waistband. Harper denied he had done anything wrong or threatened anyone, the complaint stated.
Harper appeared in Juneau Superior Court on Friday.
Felon convicted in 2008 police chase indicted on new assault and drunken driving charges
A man with 12 prior felonies — including an assault and drunken driving conviction stemming from a police chase in 2008 that included gunfire — was indicted Wednesday on charges of third-degree assault, driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.
Victor Zomalt Powell, 46, was arrested on April 3 after JPD Officer Jim Esbenshade responded to a disturbance in the Juneau area. Powell reportedly had thrown a wooden chair at someone, narrowly missing her, the criminal complaint stated. The complaint did not state the circumstances of the drunken driving charges.
Powell’s attempt to elude Juneau police on Sept. 25, 2008, which resulted in a spectacular crash through a guardrail onto the Mendenhall wetlands, resulted in him being sentenced to 10 years in prison with two years suspended. He was still on probation at the time of his April 3 arrest.
At Powell’s sentencing in 2009, the judge noted his significant criminal history, which spanned nearly 25 years and numerous infractions. Powell was convicted of seven felonies and 16 misdemeanors between 1990 and 2008, with six probation violations, five parole violations and an escape charge during that time.
The nearly eight-minute police chase from the Mendenhall Valley to the Twin Lakes area began after Powell fled from a Tesoro gas station after twice driving over a woman and being shot at by a police officer four times.
