Three women were hit by a vehicle whose driver fled and carjacked another vehicle via gunpoint before being arrested on Wednesday night following an armed standoff.
According to court documents, the Kenai Police Department responded to a disturbance off of Beaver Loop Road Monday, July 20.
A female told officers that her 1995 Jeep had been taken Sunday night without her permission, resulting in the female following her car Monday afternoon and a subsequent argument.
She reported that when someone said the police were being called, the driver of the vehicle, 29-year-old Travis McHone, hit three of the women with the Jeep, causing injuries, and then fleeding on foot.
Surveillance of the nearby Kenai Self Storage showed McHone attempting to take keys from an employee and leaving after the employee refuse.
Shortly afterward a 911 call was received by a woman who reported her and her family had been assaulted and forced out of her vehicle under the threat of a gun after they refused a man a ride.
That woman along with her friend, brother and nephew identified the man as McHone based on a photo-line up and description matching what was seen on the surveillance.
On Wednesday, July 22, Alaska State Troopers responded to a property on Price Street off of Tagala Avenue for a report of possible trespassing.
50-year-old Michael McLaughlin of Soldotna was contacted and stated that he and his girlfriend, 24-year-old Tami Hangstefer of Kenai, had permission from the owner to be living there.
Officers were told McLaughlin and Hangstefer were the only people on the property.
Troopers contacted the owner who said no one had permission to be on the property and would like troopers to remove them and search for any other people.
During the search of the property, Officers heard movement overhead in the building and after failed orders to see that persons hands heard a male voice state, “I got a gun, I got a gun, back up, back up!”.
McLaughlin and Hangstefer said they did not know who was there.
This led to a stand-off and negotiations with Troopers for several hours, through with the Southern Special Emergency Reaction Team was called in.
According to court documents, McHone eventually came out of the residence and was arrested for the hit and run, burglary, robbery, vehicle theft, multiple counts of assault, and other warrants.
McLaughlin and Hangstefer were also arrested for hindering prosecution and criminal trespass.
Another man, 67-year-old John Preston of Sterling, was found hiding in a motorhome on the property and arrested for criminal trespass also.
