A Seward man alleged to have trespassed in a guest house was arrested by Alaska State Troopers on Sunday, Jan. 19, after he barricaded himself in a bathroom.
According to charging documentation, 43-year-old Kevin VanKleeck, who was not allowed on the guest house owner’s property, entered the house and immediately entered a verbal altercation with the resident. The individuals living in the primary home on the property witnessed VanKleeck entering the guest house and called to check on the woman who lived there. She indicated she did not feel safe, and AST was called.
When Troopers arrived, VanKleeck had locked himself in a bathroom and “refused lawful orders from law enforcement to exit,” charging documents say. Once Troopers made entry into the bathroom, VanKleeck was taken into custody without incident.
According to the sworn affidavit by Trooper Keith Klingen, “AST and Seward Police have a long history with Kevin in the Seward area. He is known to law enforcement as [a] homeless male with mental and behavioral health concerns, often having concerned citizens making requests for welfare checks on his behalf.”
The charging documents say that the day before, Troopers had to escort VanKleeck off of a separate property after he had “overstayed his welcome. ”
Vankleeck has more than 10 prior criminal convictions, including multiple trespasses.
Trooper Kilgen recommended in his affidavit that VanKleeck receive court-assisted mental health aid, as he has been living homeless in Seward with “extremely limited resources to aid him in his living, with no resources at his disposal to assist him in treating his mental or behavioral problems.”
VanKleeck was taken to Spring Creek Correctional Center for Criminal Trespass 1 and two counts of Assault 4 for his reckless words and conduct, creating fear in family members, and remanded without bail.