Citizens capture young fugitives
• After 2 months in woods, Anchor Point pair taken into custody
By Sean Pearson
Homer Tribune
Almost two months to the day from when Chaunce Hoxie and his 15-year-old runaway girlfriend took to the woods near Anchor Point and began burglarizing cabins, frustrated residents in the area finally tracked the two down on the beach Monday and detained them until Alaska State Troopers arrived.
According to Trooper Sgt. Ted G. Norgaarden’s affidavit, he and Trooper Travis Bordner received a call Monday morning at 10:20 a.m. indicating that two men were “detaining” Hoxie and the juvenile female. Norgaarden said he was told that Hoxie and the juvenile female had been armed, but the weapon was removed from them. The pair were detained on a beach half-way between Homer and Anchor Point.
Upon arrival, Norgaarden said he observed both Hoxie and the juvenile female handcuffed with plastic ties, the juvenile with some blood on her upper lip.
In regard to their apprehension, Norgaarden’s affidavit indicated that Hoxie stated, “I was walking down when these two guys with guns stopped us and put plastic ties on us. I had a .22 rifle with me. The guy in camouflage hit (the juvenile) in the face with his shotgun.”
Norgaarden indicated in his affidavit that the “juvenile female reported that when the guys caught her, she was ‘pushed hard on the ground where she hit her face.’ The guy ‘kept yelling’ at her and said he’d ‘kill’ her if she ‘moved.’”
Hoxie and the juvenile female began reportedly breaking into cabins in mid December, taking items such as food, clothing and firearms before continuing on foot in the area over the next two months. Troopers and community members concerned about the two spent several weeks tracking them via helicopter and snowmachine, following footprints in the snow between cabins.
Word of the two spread quickly, and Anchor Point residents began working together to mitigate the situation as fear for the safety of the youths turned to fear for their own safety.
“This has meant, at least for myself, many sleepless nights with a gun at hand — keeping watch against assumed armed criminals,” wrote one reader on the Homer Tribune Web site. “What you continue to take from us this way — by being still ‘out there’ — is far beyond what you stole from us. Peace, is what was taken.”
By last week, rumors of the fugitive couple appearing in various places like the grocery store in town and the high school prompted Anchor Point residents to take action.
They met with troopers in a community meeting at the Anchor River Inn last Thursday night, where community member Aaron Isenhour said they were informed that only two Alaska State Troopers were on duty at any given time on the entire Southern Kenai Peninsula.
“That is a huge area that two guys are responsible for,” Isenhour said. “They told us their response time could be well over 30 minutes — even an hour. That’s not very reassuring when a 16-year-old is packing a sawed off shotgun in her backpack.” (Records indicate the juvenile is 15 years old.)
Isenhour said several members of the community began discussing neighborhood watches and organizing more community involvement in the case with the troopers at that time.
Hoxie was remanded to Homer jail on one count of burglary and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The juvenile female was placed in custody at Kenai Juvenile Justice.
Additional charges may be pending following further investigation.
Posted by Editor on Feb 17th, 2010 and filed under Headline News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
7 Responses for “Citizens capture young fugitives”
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While sorry they were apprehended in a rough manner (said not knowing the conditions), I’m glad no one was hurt worse than described above, it seems (due to weapons being taken) could have been a lot worse for anyone involved (them or those apprehending them).
I’m glad for their parents and the rest of us who can sleep a bit more soundly.
One sad part to this whole story, I live here and can attest, that if these two are guilty (for courts to decide) of the break ins…
We live in an area, where had they ASKED for help? I’ve little doubt, those who live here would likely have GIVEN them far more, than what was stolen. (again IF they are guilty of doing so).
Having been through extremely hard times here myself, I want to thank those who live here for giving me the experience enough to state that as a fact -that people are willing to help each other here, making stealing rather pointless and unnecessary-
No less, had those who went into my car and took what they did, ASKED, I too would have GIVEN them, more than they stole from us.
Even though I have little, I help those who have even less (been there).
Glad, no one was hurt worse……….
Good for the people of that brought this crime wave to an end.
People shouldn’t be afraid of enforcing the rules of polite society themselves, and the police should be thanking htem for making their lives easier, not prosecute them as happens in way too many of these cases.
An armed society is a politie society, and vigilante is not a bad word.
If you look through many of our communities, especially in earlier decades, the police were a very small force and when they needed help, they called up a group of citizens. Attitudes are different now – largely for the worse – , but we should never get to relying too much on the police, good as they may be. Everyone should be armed in a free society, unless you have religious or other reasons against it. The gun control folks are eager to force everyone to disarm against their beliefs, but we who believe everyone should be armed certainly wouldn’t force that. It’s a private decision. But the idea of a small police force and a heavily armed population is important. It is a bad thing if a government force can overwhelm a whole community. Look at genocide stories in other nations were a few armed rogues – operating criminally or even under government orders – could wipe out a whole community. We should not be opposed to the idea of citizens aiding in law enforcement at times. Current laws are much more restrictive than is probably healthy, but I find it interesting that the police support unrestricted concealed carry far more strongly on average than we the ordinary citizens do. Why? Because they like to know that if they get in a tight bind, there are going to be many people around who can help out.
My gun stays in reach. Not only because I live in bear country, but also one of the higher crime states of the US. I had to live outside the state for a number of years due to my children, I felt the police and citizens did not work together, but rather the police had an attitude of being above the people and seemed to clearly want to instill that in the general population. Something I feel would not have happened if more of the citizenry were armed (as I feel it should be).
Even in this case, of these youths, they are in my mind “suspects” and up to the courts to decide if guilty or not, of the crimes committed in our area. Those who apprehended them (*thanks!) did not take the law into their own hands (my opinion, based on limited information), they did what they felt they had to do, and called the police to do the rest and take over from there…. we the people and law enforcement working together, as it should be.
When I lived outside, the police alienated the population, thus preventing us from working together.
Our Freedom, our freedom of speech, our right to bear arms, law enforcement, politicians or individuals…
Having power and freedom is a good thing that helps people, that becomes a bad thing (especially for others), not when they are used, but when they are ABUSED and the few consider their rights, to be above the equal rights of others..This applies to citizens, police and politicians.
When crimes are committed, it is individuals who put themselves ABOVE the rights of others. That, is abuse of power, in a country where we fought for the rights to be treated as equals.
George Washington, refused to be treated as a king, and told those who tried, he was not above them, he was their servant (as was the intent, not for the police or politicians to lord over and control the people, but to serve the people), used his position responsibly, rather than abused it. Given the choice, that was his choice and his example.
In not abusing his power (to come off as ABOVE others), he was given more. We the people (in this area, mostly armed) do not abuse this power to put ourselves above others, but to defend ourselves and others, from those who DO abuse this freedom.
As it should be.
If we want a smaller government, then we the people need to govern our selves so they don’t have to do it for us.
It is when we don’t control ourselves, that others then come to do so for us. Yes I stayed up many nights with gun in hand, but I know also I was not alone in doing so, and I am grateful to those who did the same.
Its not about taking the law into our own hands, but we the people controling and governing ourselves, as we the people have been doing for hundreds of years, since this great experiment of freedom and an armed population has shown clearly, works.. Even of not always, the exceptions do not disprove the rule. We the people, even if not perfect, I hold even in this case, are doing a fine job continuing to prove this great experiment of freedom and an armed population, works.
I hope other countries can learn from this example, these youths were NOT shot on sight, which I’ve little doubt in countries where the “authorities” are the only ones armed and use it to suppress the people, this would have been the case.
Not hard to see someone reading the article above, saying that excessive force was used… But if there was anger in those who apprehended them, then they used self control and did not shoot first, nor sentence these youths, force was used by those committing the crimes (we were not given the choice, if we wanted to part with our belongings, that was a choice made for us against our will). Once apprehended and the situation a controlled one (hands tied etc) no further action is stated in this article, but that they were turned over to the police.
I’m grateful, that those who had to take control did so, with that kind of self control, and armed suspects, were not shot, nor were those who apprehended them.
If excessive force was used? I was not “there”, nor am I judge, beyond knowing that excessive force could have been used (shot), and was not. If this was Burma or another country where the population is not armed, but the dictators are? I doubt this would have happened, and shows, “the people” of the U.S. have more self control than those who seek, and do, control whole nations by force, against their will.
I do not respect those who demand respect without treating others with it.
I do respect those, who treat ‘others’ with respect, especially when it is not so easy to do so.
I may not be at times proud of my government, police or other authorities, or individuals, due to abuse of power (thus destroying by those examples, my own children’s ability to “respect” authority).
But I am proud, of the citizens (who become police and politicians) of this country, who given the control, or are forced to take control, use self control.
They (we the people, and in this case especially, those who did the apprehending) are the proof, this experiment in freedom and the right (and reason to continue to) to bear arms, “works”.
Sorry for my long posts (not wanting to abuse this right of free speech here), having spent most of my life away from humans, I find it hard to find the right words so I can be understood not misunderstood.
Thank You, Homer Tribune, for this freedom of we the people to have a voice (in matters that effect our lives), on your website. And for my community (including those posting here), may I give cause to be as proud of me, as I am of all of you.
The second ammendment is there for ;this reason. Not only was it to protect us from tyranny by our own government but also our lives and property. A citizen has as much of a right to apprehend with force as a police officer period. These punks were treated more than fair and are lucky they werent shot dead like the kids breaking into the church in big lake. And let us not forget that the pastor at the church was aquitted of any wrong doing even though he shot them dead during the breakin. Let it be known that there are many of us that do not sympathize with the above comments that they were treated rough. They are very luckiy they arent dead. Of course we all are glad that didnt have to happen. But hats off to the citizens that did there patriotic duty and policed their own neighborhood. More of this action will be required in the future- believe it – for you are looking at good times compared to what is about to come————–
David, I did say “not knowing the conditions” if it was excessive force used in their apprehension. I was not there, nor heard the “other side” of the story from those who did so, so I cant even form an opinion, based, on only ONE SIDE of that part of this story.
I do feel though, that it is unlikely, since logic would tell me that it would have been the male who got hit, not the female, if that were to have been the case – again – “not knowing”, it wont even be able to form an opinion, until the “other side of the story” is also heard.
No less than I would not want to be judged by others, who only listen to one side of the story.
My own son while a juvinal, committed crimes in the Homer area, I am glad he was not shot for it, but spent time behind bars instead.
While I may be on the edge of homeless because of him,. he has since “learned”, and has been doing his best to compensate me for my home, car, being destroyed and and the theft of most of my tools and all else of value, besides being evicted because of him.
He now has 2 children, and is going to college, while trying to compesate me for the damages done to my life, and calls me every single day….
Thankful for me holding onto the best I saw in him, even when he let go of that. When he hit me in the face I did not hit him back only to put myself on his level (“that” situation did not warrent returning violence for violence or I would have) , I did, call the police.As well as did what I could, to have him (appropreately) put behind bars. Something he has since, thanked me for.
Had he been shot in the act of commiting a crime? I’m not so sure I’d blame the person for doing so, any more than if someone broke into my home while I was home, I’d likely do just that. Because by doing so, they already made it clear, their intentions are not good ones and I’m not willing to bet my life, they would not take mine.
I’m greatful these 2 were not shot, but more greatful those apprehending them were not shot.
As to if these two straighten out and do their best to bring balance to the wrong done in this community? That is now going to be up to them to show, so I cant say I’m totally greatful they were not shot, only they and time will tell on that one.
But at least we are giving them the chance and choice to do so, in the face of them not giving us the choice, of if we wanted to part with what we owned, or have strangers going through our belongings.
“IF” it was even them who commited these crimes, and until the courts find them guilty, they are still “suspects” in my mind.
I’ll treat them with more civility than they treated me (if givien the choice), and show them a better example, of how to behave.
As to what the future holds “for you are looking at good times compared to what is about to come” time will tell how accurate that is, but I’m not wanting to push it in that direction. Nor unwilling to deal with it if it does.
“Let it be known that there are many of us that do not sympathize with the above comments that they were treated rough” If your refering to my comments,
What I said was
“If excessive force was used? I was not “there”, nor am I judge, beyond knowing that excessive force could have been used (shot), and was not.”
I did not say excessive force was used, I did say I was not “there”
Said because I have no way to know, nor is that my opinion. I dont know both sides of the story, so I dont have an opinion.nor am I willing to jump to conclusions based on only “one side” of a story………..
THE COMMUNITY WATCH MEN DID THE RIGHT THING. THIS WOULD OF CONTIUNED UNTIL SOMETHING MUCH WORSE HAPPENED. I CONGRAT ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE COMMUNITY PUT FORTH TO LOCK THESE VANDALS UP. They did the crime, now they can do the time!!! These two were getting out of control and now I know many people who live in the Anchor Point Beach Area are sleeping much easier now. I know that I am and I dont have to feel like I need a gun on my night stand any more.