The Big Lake Times
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Editha Runstrom arrested for Houston assault
On 08/27/2026 at approximately 11:15 a.m., the Alaska State Troopers responded to a residence in Houston regarding a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, Troopers noticed obvious signs of injury to an individual. Investigation revealed Editha Runstrom, age 44 of Wasilla, caused injury to a household member. Editha was arrested for Assault 4 and remanded at MSPT with no bail.
Fugitive with $2 million in warrants arrested in Big Lake
On August 12, 2026, after an lengthy mutli-agency search, Charles R. Yingst was arrested on his multiple arrest warrants stemming from several fraud and escape charges.
A Fairbanks based Alaska State Troopers’ Criminal Suppression Unit conducted lengthy surveillance and determined Charles R. Yingst was at a residence in Big Lake. Thanks to the immediate assistance from both Palmer AST patrol and the United States Marshals Service, Charles R. Yingst was arrested without incident. His warrants exceeded $2,000,000.00.
Location: Big Lake
Type: Warrant Arrest
Dispatch Text:
On 8/9/2026, at approximately 1522 hours (3:22 p.m.), the Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of Ronnie Court in Big Lake. AST contacted Robert Kunayak, age 56 of Big Lake. Investigation revealed that Robert Kunayak had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Robert was arrested and transported to Matsu Pretrial where he was remanded and held on a $2,000 bail.
Location: Houston
Type: DV Assault 4
On August 8, 2026, at approximately 0255 hours (2:55 a.m.) , Alaska State Troopers responded to a disturbance in Houston. Following the investigation, Julian Simeonoff, age 19, was arrested for domestic violence-related assault in the fourth degree. Julian Simeonoff was remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial, where he is held without bail.
Big Lake resident Timothy Abell arrested on sexual assault charges
On May 31, 2025, at 5:18 pm, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation received a report of a historic sexual assault in Wasilla. A thorough investigation resulted in probable cause identifying 62-year-old Big Lake resident Timothy Abell as the perpetrator.
Grand Jury proceedings were held on July 30, 2026, indicting Timothy Abell on three counts of Sexual Assault in the 2nd Degree, and four counts of Sexual Assault in the 3rd degree. On August 6, 2026, with the assistance of Special Crimes Investigative Unit, Timothy Abell was arrested on a warrant and transported to MatSu Pre-Trial.
Type: DV Assault, Warrant Arrest
On 07/30/2026 at approximately 0500 hours (5 a.m.), Alaska State Troopers responded to an assault in Big Lake. Following the investigation, Thomas Lapp, age 36, was arrested for domestic violence-related assault in the fourth degree as well as an unrelated arrest warrant. Lapp was remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial, where he was held without bail.
Location: Mat-Su West
Type: Silver Alert
On July 28, 2026, at 8:50 am, the Alaska State Troopers received a missing person’s report for 73-year-old Sutton resident Kim Dodge. Dodge was last seen at 10:00 pm on July 27, 2026, near mile post 71 of the Glenn Highway.
Dodge is 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, has blue eyes, gray hair, and a gray beard. He was last seen wearing a tan jacket and blue jeans. Dodge is considered to be a vulnerable adult, and the Silver Alert system was activated. Anyone with information on Dodge’s location, please contact the Alaska State Troopers at 907-451-5100, or the Alaska State Troopers Silver Alert – Hotline: 855-SILVR99 – (855-745-8799).
On 07/24/2026, members of the Mat-Su Valley Criminal Suppression Unit (CSU) conducted several traffic stops in the area of Peaceful Place in Big Lake.
During one of these stops, troopers obtained information regarding Megan Duncan, who had an active bench warrant for the original charge of Theft in the Fourth Degree. CSU located Megan Duncan at a nearby property and placed her under arrest for the warrant. Megan Duncan was remanded at Mat-Su Pretrial.
Type: Assault 3 DV
On 7/24/26 at approximately 2026 hours (8:26 m), AST received a report of a disturbance at a residence in Big Lake.
Troopers responded and investigation revealed that Samuel Gonzalez-Salas, age 26 of Anchorage, had strangled his partner. Samuel Gonzalez-Salas had an arrest warrant from APD for Assault 4 DV and Crim Mis 5 DV. Samuel Gonzalez-Salas was arrested and remanded at MSPT for his warrant, Assault 3 DV, and Assault 4 DV.
Type: Trespass
On 7/20/2026 at approximately 1506 hours (3:06 pm), AST received a report of a Trespass from a property on W. Blarney Stone Dr. in Big Lake.
Investigation revealed Steven Sampson, age 20 of Big Lake, violated a no trespass order. Steven Sampson was arrested and charged with Criminal Trespass 2nd and Stalking 2nd. Steven Sampson was remanded into MSPT where he was held without bail.
Location: Kenai River
Type: Fishing Violation
On 07/17/2026, at approximately 2327 hours (11:27 pm), Alaska Wildlife Troopers contacted Vitaliy Melnik, age 44, of Big Lake, on the Kenai River north beach.
Investigation revealed that Melnik was dipnetting after the fishing period closed at 2300 hours. Melnik was issued a strict liability citation for dipnetting during the closed period.
Type: DUI
On 07/18/2026 at approximately 0036 hours (12:36 am), Troopers responded to a large trespass party on the Alaska Railroad easement off Miller’s Reach Road in Houston.
Brandon Clement, age 21 of Wasilla, was contacted while leaving the area and a traffic stop was conducted. Investigation revealed Brandon Clement was under the influence of alcohol and he was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. He was transported to Mat-Su Pretrial, where he was later released on his own recognizance.
Type: DUI, Assault 3
On 7/11/26 at approximately 0240 hours, AST received a report of a motor vehicle rollover at the railroad extension in Houston. Troopers responded and contacted the injured passenger on scene. The passenger advised the driver, Lehi Seaman, age 19 of JBER, had been driving the vehicle while intoxicated and left the scene after the crash.
The passenger was transported to MSRMC with serious injuries. Lehi was located shortly after, and a DUI investigation was conducted. Lehi was arrested and remanded to MSPT for DUI, Assault 3, Assault 4, and Reckless Endangerment.
Type: Assault 4th DV
On 07/14/2026 at 1521 hours, Alaska State Troopers responded to an address in Houston for the report of a disturbance. Investigation revealed Donald Reeves assaulted a former significant other. Donald was arrested on charges of Assault 4th and remanded at Mat-Su Pretrial.
Big Lake resident Charles Steward arrested on warrants
On 7/13/26 at approximately 0011 hours (12:11 a.m.), AST responded to a residence in Big Lake to attempt to locate Charles Steward age 70, of Big Lake.
Charles Steward was wanted on an outstanding warrant out for his arrest for failure to remand on original charges of theft and violating conditions. He was arrested, transported and remanded to MSPT in Palmer where his bail was set at no bail with time to serve.
Assault at Big Lake Elementary results in 1 arrested
On July 9, 2026, at approximately 15:00 (3 p.m.), AST responded to a reported assault near Big Lake Elementary School.
Investigation identified Kurt Denning as the suspect. Evidence and witness statements indicated Kurt Denning assaulted his girlfriend inside their vehicle at the elementary school. Kurt Denning was arrested for Assault IV (DV) and remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial.
Location: Big LakeType: DUI
On 07/10/2026 at approximately 2115 hours (9:15 p.m.), AST received a 911 call regarding a disturbance at the NorthShore campground in Big Lake. AST responded, and an investigation revealed that Nicolas Holland, 23, of Wasilla, and Allen Swartzbacker, 26, of Wasilla, were operating a Jet ski while intoxicated.
Nicolas Holland and Allen Swartzbacker were transported to Mat-Su pretrial on charges of driving under the influence and released on their own recognizance.
Numerous charges for Zackery Cornelius-Vincent after 3 minute pursuit in Big Lake
On 07/08/2026 at approximately 1851 hours (6:51 p.m.), the Mat-Su Criminal Suppression Unit (CSU) attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in Big Lake. The vehicle failed to yield to emergency lights and sirens, and a vehicle pursuit was initiated.
After an approximately three-minute pursuit, CSU conducted a PIT maneuver and blocked the vehicle in the ditch to prevent the vehicle from escaping. The suspect subsequently fled the vehicle on foot.
Palmer patrol responded to the incident location and apprehended the suspect who was identified as thirty-one-year-old Zackery Cornelius-Vincent.
Zackery Cornelius-Vincent had numerous felony warrants for his arrest on the original charges of Failure to Stop at the Direction of a Peace Officer in the First Degree, Petition to Revoke Probation (PTRP), Vehicle Theft in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, Theft in the Fourth Degree, and Violating Conditions of Release (VCOR).
Zackery Cornelius-Vincent was placed under arrest for his outstanding warrants as well as a new charge of Failure to Stop at the Direction of a Peace Officer in the First Degree. Cornelius-Vincent was remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial without bail. The investigation is ongoing.
Location: Wasilla
Type: MICS 5
On 7/5/26 at approximately 0002 hours, AST received a report of a female passed out in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at the Speedway Express gas station at Palmer-Wasilla Hwy and Seward-Meridian Pkwy in Wasilla.
Troopers responded and investigation revealed that Serenity Schmidt, age 50 of Big Lake, was in possession of meth. Serenity was arrested and remanded to MSPT for MICS 5.
Anchorage man, woman hogtied by Big Lake partygoers
On 7/4/26 at approximately 0136 hours (1:36 am), AST received a report of a disturbance at 22800 W Susitna Pkwy in Big Lake.
It was reported that a male was highly intoxicated and had assaulted multiple people. He was currently detained and hog-tied by other people on scene. An intoxicated female began assaulting them, and she was being detained in a similar fashion.
AST responded and investigation revealed that Wesley Vent, age 32 of Anchorage and Amber Bates, age 31 of Anchorage, assaulted family members in the presence of children.
Amber Bates was arrested and remanded to MSPT for Assault 4 DV, Assault 4, and Assault in the Presence of a Child DV x4. Wes Wesley Vent was arrested and remanded to MSPT for Assault 4 DV x2 and Assault in the Presence of a Child DV x4.
Type: DV Assault
On 06/09/2026 at approximately 1810 hours, Troopers responded to a reported assault along Zero Lake Road in Houston. Investigation revealed that Terry Cunitz, age 48 of Wasilla assaulted someone during the incident. Terry Cunitz was later located at his residence in Wasilla where he was arrested for Assault 4 DV. He was medically cleared at Mat Su Regional Hospital, and transported to MSPT in Palmer where he was held without bail.
Type: Death Investigation
On June 2, 2026, the Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a deceased person at a residence, in the Houston area. The deceased was identified as 43-year-old Houston resident Jessica Marks. Foul play is not suspected. The State Medical Examiner’s Office took possession of the body. Next of kin has been notified.
On 6/5/26 at approximately 1831 hours, AST received a report of a motor vehicle collision in the Three Bears parking lot in Big Lake. AST responded and investigation revealed that Jiri Prudic, age 72 of Big Lake, had driven while intoxicated. Jiri was arrested and remanded to MSPT for DUI.
Location: Palmer
On 06/01/2026 at approximately 1500 hours, Court Services Officers assigned to Palmer Judicial Services arrested Cody Lloyd Ives, age 41, of Big Lake for an outstanding arrest warrant for Promoting Contraband in the First Degree. Ives was served with the warrant while in-custody at Matsu Pretrial Facility in Palmer on unrelated charges. Bail was set at $500 cash performance.
Any charges reported in these press releases are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
