Two Alaska State Police officers charged with assault following incident in Kenai in May

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – Two Alaska State Troopers (AST) are facing assault charges after a violent altercation with a man in Kenai.

Joseph Miller, 49, and Jason Woodruff, 42, are both charged with fourth-degree assault. On May 24, officers along with Kenai police located 38-year-old Ben Tikka in the back seat of his parked vehicle, believing there was a warrant for his arrest. Tikka denied the warrant, and a news release said Miller sprayed pepper spray into the vehicle after breaking a rear window when Tikka refused to get out.

According to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) press release, Miller pinned Tikka's head to the ground with his boot as he continued to resist commands outside the vehicle. The ground was covered in broken glass. While Tikka was handcuffed, a taser was also allegedly deployed multiple times. A sniffer dog was instructed to bite him, and those commands continued after he apparently began to comply with commands, according to the press release.

Tikka was taken to a hospital for treatment and it was eventually determined that he was not the person the officers were looking for. After reviewing the use of force, DPS leadership was notified of a possible violation of policy. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation then opened a criminal investigation and determined that both officers would face charges.

In a press conference Thursday, DPS Commissioner James Cockrell said AST adheres to high standards of conduct and accountability.

“When I watched this video, I was completely disgusted by what I saw. Two Alaska State Troopers who represent this uniform, who represent this state, conducted themselves in this way. As a result of their conduct, the individual who was hospitalized in this vehicle sustained significant injuries. I have been with this department for 33 years and have never seen this type of conduct by an Alaska State Trooper before. I have a hard time understanding how this has affected me and other troopers who wear this uniform. Let me be clear. The conduct of these two individuals is unacceptable to me. It is not consistent with our training and policy, and I know it is unacceptable to the Alaskans we serve.”

According to Cockrell, both officers are still employed by the state and are currently on leave. It is unclear if the leave is paid. They are scheduled to appear in court on September 10.

According to John Skidmore, assistant attorney general for the Alaska Department of Justice's Criminal Division, the body camera footage will not be made publicly available until after the trial is complete.

“If there is body-worn camera footage, that is evidence in a criminal investigation. We do not release evidence in a criminal investigation because we fear it could affect a citizen's constitutional rights if charges are brought. This is an example of where charges were brought. All evidence from this case will be tested in court. The jury will be able to evaluate it. We will never try this case, or any other, in the media. We must protect the constitutional rights of the people charged,” Skidmore said.

According to a report from Alaska's News Source in Anchorage, the dog has also been taken out of service.

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