Two Alaska State Troopers Charged with Assault in Case of Mistaken Identity

What Happened?

In a shocking case, two Alaska State Troopers, canine handler Jason Woodruff and Sgt. Joseph Miller, reportedly pepper-sprayed, stunned, and used a police dog on a man in a case of mistaken identity, resulting in the troopers being charged with assault. The violent arrest occurred on May 24 in the Kenai Peninsula community of Soldotna, southwest of Anchorage. The troopers mistakenly targeted Ben Tikka, believing him to be Garrett Tikka, a man wanted for failing to serve a 10-day sentence for driving with a revoked license. The mistaken identity led to a violent arrest that left Ben Tikka severely injured, needing surgery to repair muscle lacerations, a fractured shoulder, cuts to his head, and an open police dog bite.

The Aftermath

The beatings resulted in the Troopers being charged with misdemeanor assault set to appear in state court in Kenai on Sept. 10. Both have been placed on administrative leave. The incident is reportedly being reviewed for possible policy violations, casting doubt on past cases they have been involved in. Despite the severity of the incident, the Alaska Department of Public Safety has decided not to publicize the body camera video of the incident until the resolution of the criminal case.

Reactions

Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner, James Cockrell, reportedly expressed his dismay at the event, signifying that such a level of violence has not been witnessed in his entire 33-year career at the department. “I was totally sickened by what I saw”, he said. It’s worth noting that since the incident, the police dog involved has been taken out of service, according to Cockrell. However, the impact on the victim and the resultant charges against the Troopers underscore the severity of this incident.

The Backstory

The incident began with a call about possible illegal camping in a vehicle at a dog park in Soldotna. The troopers were informed that the SUV was associated with Garrett Tikka, but they failed to ascertain the identity of the person inside before proceeding to the arrest. Following Ben Tikka’s refusal to step out of the vehicle, the troopers resorted to violent means, smashing a rear window, using a police dog, and physically assaulting him.

Statements from the Troopers

According to charging papers, Miller maintained that the force used would have been unnecessary if Tikka had immediately exited the vehicle and complied. Upon being queried if the officers’ actions were reasonable, he responded, “From my understanding, yes.” Woodruff, on the other hand, argued that he was following his training protocol in using the police dog during their violent exchange.