A Sitka Grand Jury in December indicted two men on charges ranging from terroristic threatening to assault.
Police arrested 47-year-old James Thompson on Christmas Eve after he allegedly barricaded himself in his home and told police he had a firearm. Police were attempting to contact Thompson about an open warrant when the situation escalated. Police broke down Thompson’s door, deploying smoke grenades, and arrested Thompson.
On December 28, a Sitka Grand Jury indicted Thompson on two counts of terroristic threatening in the second degree, class C felonies, and a misdemeanor count of assault in the fourth degree. Thompson is in custody at Lemon Creek Correctional facility in Juneau.
The same Grand Jury indicted 22-year-old Benito Joseph Martinez on several assault and criminal mischief charges. Martinez was arrested on December 26, after a neighbor called 911 to report Martinez and the victim screaming in an adjoining apartment. Police arrived at the scene, and after an investigation arrested Martinez. During the arrest, police say Martinez resisted and attempted to flee, and an officer tackled him. The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries.
On December 28, Martinez was indicted on a count each of assault in the second and third degree, both felonies. He was also indicted on one count of misdemeanor assault in the fourth degree, two counts of criminal mischief, one count of interfering with a report of a crime involving domestic violence and one count of resisting or interfering with arrest.
Both Thompson and Martinez have tentative trial dates scheduled in February.
