Kotlik man charged with first-degree assault after alleged knife attack

Alaska State Troopers arrested a 28-year-old Kotlik man and charged him with first-degree assault after they say he cut a friend numerous times with a knife early Monday, Nov. 9.

The victim, an adult man, was medevaced to Bethel because of the severity of his injuries, according to the troopers' dispatch.

Troopers based in Emmonak received several reports of a disturbance in Kotlik at 3:39 am. The reports said the man had assaulted his friend with a knife. Troopers said the victim told the man to stop. The man then dropped the knife, began giving first aid and took the victim to the Kotlik clinic. From there, the victim was flown to Bethel.

Troopers traveled to Kotlik and arrested the man. Troopers said alcohol is believed to be a factor. They have not released the victim's name or said how he is doing.

Kotlik bans the sale and importation of alcohol under a local-option ordinance, according to the City of Kotlik Code of Ordinances. Alaska law lets cities and villages hold local-option elections to control the sale, importation or possession of alcohol.

The arrest is the third serious trooper case in Kotlik since mid-October. On Oct. 15, troopers charged a 21-year-old Kotlik man with two counts of attempted murder after reports he pointed a shotgun at two people. On Oct. 27, troopers found two people dead inside a Kotlik home and later said a Bethel man killed an Emmonak woman and then shot himself.

The Department of Public Safety says charges in its dispatches are accusations. The man is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.