A Ninilchik woman who had been evading law enforcement for nearly a month after removing her house arrest ankle monitor was found and arrested by Soldotna Police on Sunday, Apr. 21.
Originally, 26-year-old Hannah N. Kelson was arrested by SPD on Mar. 19 after she stole a vehicle and led police on a high-speed pursuit. At the time, Kelson was remanded at Wildwood Pretrial Facility for First-Degree Eluding and First-Degree Vehicle Theft. At a bail hearing on Mar. 21, she was released to the Department of Corrections Pretrial Enforcement Division for electronic monitoring.
Then, on Mar. 27, Kelson was reported to have cut off her electronic ankle monitor. She was not immediately located, and a warrant was requested for Second-Degree Escape.
After evading capture for nearly a month, Soldotna Police Officers observed a 2014 silver Jeep just before midnight on Apr. 21 matching the description of one aired as a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) earlier in the evening. The vehicle was reported to have picked up Kelson, who had active warrants for escape and violating her conditions of release.
Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, contacting the driver, who was detained, and the passenger, whom they identified as Kelson. An APSIN computer check confirmed Kelson had two active arrest warrants: the first for Second-Degree Escape, with a $5000 bail, and the second for violating her conditions of release for original charges of Vehicle Theft and Failure to Stop at the Direction of an Officer, with a $10,000 bail.
During the arrest, Kelson was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and had been previously convicted of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance on Mar. 21. Kelson was also still out on conditions of release, which included provisions to obey all laws and not to consume or possess illegal drugs.
Kelson was remanded to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on the two warrants and two new charges of MICS 4 and VCOR. She was held with no bail.
