Police detained an Juneau man on Thursday for 10 charges following an unending standoff in downtown Juneau which lasted for approximately three hours. The standoff was also closed four blocks in the city.
Kenneth Kitka, 65, is charged with nine felonies related to illegal drugs and weapons and one misdemeanor count for breaching the conditions of release.
According to the police the search was linked to a ten-year-long investigation into the supply illicit drugs. Kitka is currently at Lemon Creek Correctional Center.
The dispute between Kitka and officers from officers from the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs task force began on Thursday morning, when police attempted to issue a search warrant for a residence located on North Franklin Street and its owners. A dozen police officers wearing protective gear were on the scene, as was JPD’s armored pickup.
Police say two individuals left the house early in the search. They are not being taken into custody or charged. However, Kitka was still in the home and was unable to go out.
Three hours later, the police spoke through loudspeakers and fired rounds that were not lethal into the home. Then, police fired pepper spray at the house. They then entered the home and led Kitka out, and they arrested him and then took off in a police vehicle.
According to the charges the police found around 4,000 potential fentanyl drugs meth, heroin, cocaine LSD and a total of $100,000 cash in their search. They also discovered a pistol under a bed, and two inside his truck.
Kitka was granted his court debut on Friday morning. The bail amount has been set to $200,000. State prosecutor Katholyn RUNNELS said Kitka is a major threat to the community, as and the risk of flight.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”In this instance the time they were trying to serve the warrant, he refused to comply to the order of the officer for around 30 minutes,” they said. “They needed to resort to the irritants to remove him of the house. .”
Kitka is scheduled to appear in a preliminary hearing on February. 26th 2024.
