Haley Lehman

Fairbanks

General Assignment Reporter at Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

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Articles

‘It got out of hand’: Jury hears conflicting accounts in Two Rivers murder case

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

Attorneys presented opening statements Friday in the trial of a man accused of beating and strangling a friend to death at a Two Rivers cabin in June 2023. Wesley Scott Cruikshank, 36, faces charges of felony first-degree murder, felony second-degree murder and misdemeanor violating bail conditions in connection with the death of 43-year-old Ashton Gasper-Scavette in Two Rivers on June 16, 2023.
Bear euthanized at Eielson after becoming food-conditioned, officials say

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

Wildlife officials euthanized a grizzly bear on Eielson Air Force Base on Friday after the bear developed dangerous habits near residents. The bear had been accessing trash and pet food in residential areas of the military base, according to a news release. State and wildlife officials tried deterring the bear with non-lethal methods and urged residents to secure garbage and food sources. Wildlife officials had been tracking the bear in populated areas of the base since the fall of 2024.
Jury finds Matthew Myers guilty in fatal 2022 Cushman Street shooting

2 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

A Fairbanks jury convicted a man of murder, assault and weapons misconduct Friday afternoon following a six-day trial.
Convicted kidnapper found incompetent to continue as own counsel

3 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

A Fairbanks judge ruled Wednesday that a former Fort Wainwright soldier is no longer competent to represent himself. A jury convicted 28-year-old Christopher Erik Mann in March 2024 of felony kidnapping, felony coercion, felony third-degree assault and felony fourth-degree weapons misconduct for holding his friend at gunpoint outside their North Pole duplex in June 2023. Mann was an active-duty Army sergeant at Fort Wainwright at the time of the incident.
Flight risk: Boozy pilot crash-lands, throws fits and footwear

3 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

A North Pole man is accused of flying while intoxicated and landing his plane on Fort Wainwright in April. According to a criminal complaint, 43-year-old Brian Scott Sipes was flying in the North Pole area early on April 25 when a bird flew through his windshield, breaking off his side of the windshield. He said that he felt something hit his head and he could not see out of the windshield, so he emergency landed his red Universal Stinson 108 aircraft at Ladd Army Airfield on Fort Wainwright.
University Fire Department breaks ground on Station 12 expansion

3 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

The University Fire Department broke ground on a $4 million expansion of its University Avenue station Wednesday afternoon to meet the demand of emergency services in Fairbanks. UFD Chief Forrest Kuiper said the department outgrew Station 12 and needed to expand. Station 12 hosts seven firefighters and has three dorm rooms, so four firefighters have been living in ATCO structures. The firefighters have been doing physical training in the apparatus bay.
Defense experts: Matthew Myers was justified in fatal shooting on Cushman Street

3 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

Expert witnesses for the defense say that a man accused of fatally shooting another man in downtown Fairbanks was justified in his use of force. The defendant maintains that he fired in self-defense after confronting a man who had allegedly set a Dumpster on fire in his neighborhood.
Suspect arrested following Circle K armed robbery

3 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

Alaska State Troopers arrested a 19-year-old man Monday in connection with an armed robbery. Emanuel Isais Matthew Bostwick was charged with felony first-degree robbery in connection with the incident at a Circle K. According to a criminal complaint, a tall man wearing a ski mask walked into the Circle K on Phillips Field Road early Monday morning. The employee told the man to take off his mask if he wanted to shop in the store, but the man refused.
Texas man arrested for alleged sexual assault

3 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

A Texas man was arrested near Denali Park Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a coworker. According to a criminal complaint, a McKinley Creekside Cabins, Cafe & Bakery employee went to a party for a coworker Sunday night, after which she walked back to her room late. The woman ran into 24-year-old Terry Paul Stelly, 24, of Carthage, Texas, another employee at McKinley Creekside Cabins, in the hallway. Stelly was intoxicated and reportedly insisted that she kiss him.
Man claims self-defense in fatal shooting after Dumpster fire dispute

3 weeks ago | newsminer.com | Haley Lehman

The state rested its case Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of fatally shooting another man who allegedly started a Dumpster fire. Matthew Lee Myers, 45, faces charges of felony first-degree murder, two counts of felony second-degree murder, two counts of felony second-degree weapons misconduct, five counts of felony third-degree assault, and misdemeanor reckless endangerment in connection with the death of 29-year-old Rolando Khaleel Pressley.