In an Alaska Troopers assault case, authorities charged two State Troopers on Thursday. Authorities mistakenly informed Officers Jason Woodruff and Sgt. Joseph Miller that they were apprehending Garrett Tikka, wanted for not completing his 10-day sentence for driving with a suspended license. On May 24, the agents approached an SUV connected to Garrett Tikka in the Kenai Peninsula hamlet of Soldotna. However, the Alaska Attorney General’s Office has filed charges, claiming that Ben Tikka, his cousin, was the person inside the car.
This misidentification led to a violent incident in which Ben Tikka suffered severe injuries. He suffered from an exposed dog bite on his left upper arm, a shattered shoulder, brain injuries, and muscle tears. The authorities made the accusations known but wouldn’t release the body-worn camera footage until the criminal prosecution was over. James Cockrell, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, expressed his shock, saying, “I was totally sickened by what I saw.”
Woodruff’s attorney, Clint Campion, did not return calls seeking comment. Meanwhile, on September 10, Miller, 49, a 14-year veteran trooper, and Woodruff, 42, a 16-year veteran, will appear in state court in Kenai. Both face misdemeanor assault charges. Additionally, the agency has placed both officers on administrative leave while reviewing their past cases for potential policy breaches.
A report of possible illegal camping in Soldotna was the first step in the event. Without confirming their identification, the troopers forced the occupant out of the car. Ben Tikka insisted he had no warrants and chose not to leave immediately. Then Miller broke a back glass, pepper-sprayed Tikka, and violently attacked him.
When Tikka was transported to the hospital, authorities confirmed his true identity. After the person was first arrested for many charges, including assault, the Kenai District Attorney’s Office dropped the case. As Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore pointed out, Alaskan troopers have seldom been the target of excessive force claims. The Alaska Troopers assault case emphasizes how important it is for law enforcement processes to have accountability and precise identification.
