Sterling man shoots neighbor's generator, returns armed and drunk, threatens troopers' children

A Sterling man offered to buy his neighbor's gas generator Monday night. The neighbor turned him down. Troopers say the generator ended up with bullet holes in it.

Alaska State Troopers were called to Scout Lake Loop Road around 9:22 p.m. July 20 and found the older generator shot up, according to their account. While they were still there, the 42-year-old man rode back to the scene on an ATV with a .45-caliber pistol on him. Troopers reported bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and trouble staying upright. He declined field sobriety tests, and later refused a breath sample at the trooper post.

He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving weapons, fifth-degree criminal mischief, and refusal. Troopers say he threatened the neighbor as he was taken away, and made threats toward troopers' families and toward inmates on the way to the hospital for a blood draw.

He was remanded to Wildwood Pretrial Facility. The charges are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.