Gunfire aimed at police brings arrest

Published on March 4th, 2010

By ALEX DEMARBAN

A Bethel man faces assault charges after firing a rifle at police, said Police Chief Larry Elarton.

Gabriel Brink, 24, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, but additional and stiffer charges are expected after the district attorney reviews the case, said Elarton.

No one was hurt in the hour-long standoff that played out Feb. 26 at 9331 B Tundra Ridge Road. It ended when police in tactical gear smashed into a bedroom and arrested Brink without incident.

Police are still investigating whether the man took a young girl inside the house hostage, Elarton said.

The action started when three officers - Annie Goemer, Jerry Herrod and Collyn Symmes - responded at 3:46 p.m. to a report of a man with a gun, or possibly a stick.

Inside the house, which belongs to Brink's parents, police found "bottles everywhere." They said Brink appeared to be intoxicated, according to Elarton.

Police interviewed Brink and the man's girlfriend who had been in the house. They said he became "agitated."

They left the house after determining he may not have had a gun, and that no crime had occurred. Also, things appeared to be calm.

The girlfriend also left.

But as police were leaving, two juveniles - a boy and girl - arrived to go inside the house.

Police asked if they felt safe in the house. They said they did and went inside.

Elarton would not give the ages of the juveniles and would only say they were related to Brink.

As the officers were outside discussing the case near a squad car, the juvenile boy bolted outside the house, screaming that Brink had a gun and his sister was still inside.

Police heard a gunshot that came from inside the house. They dashed for cover behind the car, said Elarton.

Next, the officers heard glass break and saw Brink leaning out an open window, pointing the rifle at them.

They ducked for cover again and heard a second gunshot.

The officers believe Brink fired the weapon at them, said Elarton.

Pinned down, they called for help.

During the next hour, Alaska State Troopers and police evacuated nearby homes.

Police attempted to contact Brink by phone with a hostage negotiator, but no one answered.

Attempts to persuade family to intervene were also unsuccessful.

About an hour later, several officers donned tactical gear and broke through the front doors of the house, Elarton said.

They found the girl in the house and arrested Brink in a back bedroom.