The manager of the Duck Creek Market said he kicked a shirtless, erratic-behaving man off of his property Friday morning before the store was open, then the man returned with threats of violence while customers were inside.
The Juneau Police Department arrested Koby Walter Blake, 25, for felony robbery, misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor theft charges Friday morning, according to a JPD news release. Mike, manager of the Duck Creek Market who wouldn’t disclose his last name, said he called 911 around 8:30 a.m. when he feared things were getting out of control.
“The only reason I called is because I thought it was going to get to a violent point,” Mike said, adding that he was working in the store alone. “You could tell by some of the customers, they were feeling threatened.”
Mike said he first saw Blake outside his store, located at 9951 Stephen Richards Memorial Dr., as he was preparing to open. Blake was climbing the building and jumping on a truck, so Mike kicked him off the property. Then he said Blake returned while two or three customers were inside. He was screaming obscenities and saying “I’m going to kill you” and “I’m going to rob you,” all while he was shirtless and only wearing jeans and a cowboy hat, Mike said.
Blake walked in and out of the store, sometimes grabbing handfuls of random items and walking out without paying, Mike said. He said Blake then attempted to get behind the counter a few times, but Mike said he didn’t get that far and Blake did not appear to be armed. Mike said the most alarming thing about Blake was the way he would aggressively mumble to himself, pacing as if angry with someone.
“All I said to him was, ‘Don’t walk out of the store with that stuff’,” Mike said, explaining why he was confused with Blake’s temper.
Police on the scene found Blake inside the store and apprehended him without incident, according JPD. Blake is now at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center. Police said they believe alcohol and controlled substances are factors in this case.
Online court records show Blake has appeared in court for seven other criminal offenses this year and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor larceny charges for events in April and May. Blake also has an open misdemeanor assault case stemming from an incident in April and was most recently charged with criminal trespassing on Tuesday.
A date for Blake’s next court appearance is not available online.
The Duck Creek Market is still open today and operating per usual, Mike said as he was ringing up customers’ items from behind the counter. He said even though it was a less than ideal way to start a Friday, he’s just glad that none of his customers were injured. He also said that in the six years he’s managed the Duck Creek Market he’s never experienced something like this and he’s worried about what is happening in Juneau.
“There’s been a lot of (drug-related) crime going around,” Mike said. “I see it all the the time. There’s something new in town, I don’t know what it is but it’s got people acting different and it’s got other people worried.”
