State prosecutors have determined that three law enforcement officers were legally justified in using deadly force during a January 23 standoff in Kasilof that left one man dead and an Alaska State Trooper injured.
According to a press release issued Tuesday by the Office of Special Prosecutions, Alaska State Troopers Ethan Norwood and Jonathan Lindblom, along with Homer Police Officer Charles Lee, were found to have acted lawfully when they opened fire on 32-year-old Mason Toloff of Kasilof. The decision comes after the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s full review of the incident.
The standoff began late in the evening on Jan. 23 when Alaska State Troopers received a 911 call around 10:05 p.m. reporting a man yelling and firing a gun near Crooked Creek Road. When troopers arrived, Toloff allegedly threatened to shoot them. The Southern SWAT team was called in and began negotiations.
During the standoff, Toloff reportedly shot at a drone deployed outside the home and then fired at a uniformed Trooper, striking her in the leg. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
At approximately 2:19 a.m., officials say Toloff again pointed his shotgun at officers. Troopers Norwood and Lindblom, along with Officer Lee, returned fire, striking and killing Toloff. No other injuries were reported.
Following the shooting, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation launched a comprehensive review, and the involved officers were placed on administrative leave for 72 hours per department policy.
The Office of Special Prosecutions has now concluded that the officers were “legally justified in their use of deadly force,” citing the immediate threat Toloff posed to responding personnel. “Toloff threatened the responding Troopers and refused to disarm, then fired multiple shots at law enforcement officers,” the statement said.
Toloff’s body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, and his next of kin were notified the following day.
Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a statement shortly after the incident, expressing relief that the injured Trooper would recover and offering prayers for her and the entire law enforcement community.