Noatak man threatens people with rifle

THE SOUNDER STAFF

May 09, 2008 at 11:21AM AKST

sounder@alaskanewspapers.com

A Noatak man was arrested and charged after he allegedly pointed a rifle at a group of people, including a 3-year-old child, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers say an investigation revealed that 52-year-old Gordon Wesley was intoxicated on Thursday, May 1, when he started to threaten some of the community’s residents.

The trouble began when Wesley got on his snowmachine and nearly struck a man he had been arguing with, according to the troopers. He then returned to his home, where he retrieved the rifle.

Wesley was arrested and charged with multiple counts of felony assault, reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated.

He was being held in the Kotzebue Regional Jail.