8/24/21 – 4:00 p.m. UPDATE: The Alaska State Troopers have remanded 60-year-old Anchor Point resident Bret Herrick at the Homer Jail on charges of Attempted Murder and Assault 1. His bail will be set at arraignment.
8/24/21 – 11:00 a.m. UPDATE – On Monday, August 23, at 1:07 p.m., an Alaska State Trooper assigned to Anchor Point observed 60-year-old Anchor Point resident Bret Herrick at a business in downtown Anchor Point; Herrick was known to have multiple warrants out for his arrest. The Trooper contacted Herrick to attempt to arrest him on his outstanding warrants. During the contact, Herrick produced a handgun and fired on the Trooper, striking him multiple times. The Trooper also discharged his service pistol during the incident. As an additional Trooper arrived at the scene, Herrick fled the area on foot.
Law enforcement from across the region, Department of Public Safety aircraft assets, and Alaska State Troopers Special Emergency Reaction Team members from across the state descended on Anchor Point to search for Herrick. Search efforts were ongoing throughout Monday and into the evening. On Tuesday, at 8:40 a.m., an Alaska State Trooper SERT team located Herrick near his Anchor Point residence while following up on a tip. Herrick was arrested without incident for his four outstanding arrest warrants, and additional charges are anticipated for Monday’s incident.
The injured Trooper is currently in fair condition, receiving medical care at an Anchorage area hospital. The name of the Trooper that discharged their service weapon will be released after 72 hours in accordance with department policy. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident. Once their investigation is completed, it will be forwarded to the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions for review.
8/24/21 – 9:00 a.m. UPDATE – Tuesday morning at approximately 8:40 a.m., the Alaska State Troopers arrested 60-year-old Anchor Point resident Bret Herrick in an Anchor Point residence. The shelter in place has been lifted. The Alaska State Troopers would like to thank the Anchor Point community for the valuable information that was provided that resulted in Herrick’s arrest. There will be an increased law enforcement presence in Anchor Point Tuesday as Troopers continue their investigation in the incident that occurred Monday.
8/24/21 – 5:00 a.m. UPDATE – The suspect is still at large. Air resources will resume at daylight. Please continue to stay out of the response area. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District says that Chapman School Anchor Point Alaska is closed today, August 24, 2021, to students and staff. The suspect is still at large, and air resources will resume at daylight. Families have been contacted directly through School Messenger. Please continue to stay out of the response area. Be safe, and call 911 immediately if you see Herrick or have information about his current location.
Morning bus service for routes 203 and 254 serving Anchor Point students who attend Homer Flex School, Homer High School, and Homer Middle School is cancelled on Tuesday morning.
8/23/21 – 10:00 p.m. UPDATE – The Sterling Highway MP 164 (near North Fork Road) is open with one lane access. Expect traffic delays through the night, adhere to detours and stay clear of response vehicles. Thank you for supporting the first responders and our dispatchers as they continue to work through the night supporting State Troopers’ efforts to apprehend this suspect. Please call 911 if you see Bret Herrick. Do not approach him as Troopers consider him armed and dangerous.
8/23/21 – 7:45 p.m. UPDATE – Sterling Highway temporarily closed at MP 164 (approximately one mile north of North Fork Road, Anchor Point). Law enforcement air and ground support in area.
8/23/21 – 6:00 p.m. UPDATE – Troopers continue to look for suspect Brent Herrick (photo below). This incident is expected to go into the night. Residents in the area of MP156.5 Sterling Hwy are asked to remain sheltered in place and stay out of the response area. Adhere to detours and watch out for response personnel or vehicles in the area. Call 911 immediately if you see Herrick or have information about his current location.
8/23/21 – ORIGINAL – An Alaska State Trooper was shot while on duty in Anchor Point on Monday, August 23 at 1:00 p.m.
According to Austin McDaniel, acting Communications Director for the Alaska State Troopers, a trooper was shot in the downtown Anchor Point area near mile 156.5 of the Sterling Highway.
Alaska State Troopers are currently looking for 60-year-old Anchor Point resident Bret Herrick in connection with this incident. If you see Herrick or have information about his current location, do not approach him and call 911 immediately. Herrick is considered armed and dangerous. Herrick was last seen wearing work boots, dark pants, knee-length leather trench coat, black tee-shirt, and a black do-rag on his head. Herrick is 5’10”, 200 pounds bald, and has brown eyes.
The unidentified injured Trooper was receiving medical care at an area hospital. After the shooting, the Trooper was medevaced to an Anchorage area hospital for additional treatment. The Trooper is currently in fair condition.
The Office of Emergency Management for the Kenai Peninsula Borough said to stay away from the area. Alaska State Troopers are asking the public to not pick up hitchhikers in and around the Anchor Point area.
