05-04-2014, 11:02 AM
Alaskan Troopers shot in the line of duty -- RIP
![[Image: n-ALASKA-STATE-TROOPER-large570.jpg]](http://i0.huffpost.com/gen/1774997/thumbs/n-ALASKA-STATE-TROOPER-large570.jpg)
Patrick Scott Johnson, 45 and Gabriel Rich, 26.
The troopers were shot 7 times from behind by the 19-year-old son (Nathaniel Kangas) of a resistant disorderly man (Arvin Kangas) who had recently pointed a gun at the village safety officer whilst driving around without a license.
Johnson and Rich had flown 130 miles to the village of Tanana (pop 238) to execute the arrest warrant and were struggling with Arvin Kangas when the shooting went down. The village safety officer (Mark Haglin) was with them at the scene and managed to get help without being shot.
![[Image: article-2618404-1D88B0B200000578-7_634x365.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/03/article-2618404-1D88B0B200000578-7_634x365.jpg)
The crime scene
Johnson was a husband and father of three daughters who had worked as a supervisor of a Fairbanks-area narcotics team. He was a veteran trooper who joined the force in 1993. He spent his career in Fairbanks and worked a variety of roles, including patrol trooper, field training officer and as a canine officer, instructor and canine unit supervisor.
Rich was engaged to the mother of his 1-year-old son. He first worked as a patrolman with the North Pole Police Department southeast of Fairbanks before deciding to join the troopers in 2011. With the troopers, he spent most of his career on patrol.
Johnson and Rich had been featured on National Geographic's "Alaskan State Troopers".
The younger Kangas is charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of assault -- he continues to say he's sorry. He's being held on $2 million bail.
The older Kangas is charged with assault.
Note: Village public safety officers are unarmed, but a bill passed by lawmakers this year would allow for the arming of the officers, who serve as first responders in rural communities that can be located hours or days, depending on the weather, from the nearest state trooper. Seems wise.
Refs:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/04..._ref=crime
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ained.html
Patrick Scott Johnson, 45 and Gabriel Rich, 26.
The troopers were shot 7 times from behind by the 19-year-old son (Nathaniel Kangas) of a resistant disorderly man (Arvin Kangas) who had recently pointed a gun at the village safety officer whilst driving around without a license.
Johnson and Rich had flown 130 miles to the village of Tanana (pop 238) to execute the arrest warrant and were struggling with Arvin Kangas when the shooting went down. The village safety officer (Mark Haglin) was with them at the scene and managed to get help without being shot.
The crime scene
Johnson was a husband and father of three daughters who had worked as a supervisor of a Fairbanks-area narcotics team. He was a veteran trooper who joined the force in 1993. He spent his career in Fairbanks and worked a variety of roles, including patrol trooper, field training officer and as a canine officer, instructor and canine unit supervisor.
Rich was engaged to the mother of his 1-year-old son. He first worked as a patrolman with the North Pole Police Department southeast of Fairbanks before deciding to join the troopers in 2011. With the troopers, he spent most of his career on patrol.
Johnson and Rich had been featured on National Geographic's "Alaskan State Troopers".
The younger Kangas is charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of assault -- he continues to say he's sorry. He's being held on $2 million bail.
The older Kangas is charged with assault.
Note: Village public safety officers are unarmed, but a bill passed by lawmakers this year would allow for the arming of the officers, who serve as first responders in rural communities that can be located hours or days, depending on the weather, from the nearest state trooper. Seems wise.
Refs:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/04..._ref=crime
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ained.html