Public records lawsuit seeks video of alleged assault by Alaska state troopers

This screenshot from a assemblage camera video was attached to criminal charging documents published Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, by nan Alaska Department of Law. It shows an Alaska State trooper kicking a man successful May 2024. The trooper and 1 different person been charged pinch misdemeanor assault. (Screenshot)

A civilian authorities lawyer is suing the Alaska Department of Public Safety for entree to assemblage camera footage related to an alleged battle by 2 Alaska authorities troopers against a Kenai Peninsula man.

This month, DPS Commissioner James Cockrell told reporters that he was “totally sickened” by what he saw successful nan footage, which inspired an investigation that led prosecutors to complaint nan 2 troopers pinch assault.

RELATED: 2 Soldotna troopers charged pinch battle complete May apprehension successful Kenai

John Skidmore, head of nan Department of Law’s criminal division, said nan assemblage camera footage will beryllium released for nationalist reappraisal “only aft nan conclusion of (the) criminal case” aliases during nan people of a trial.

Attorney Nick Feronti says that’s unacceptable.

“I deliberation that nan nationalist (and, frankly, nan media) merit much transparency,” he said by email. “And I cognize I americium not alone. So, I revenge a suit astir this nether nan Alaska Public Records Act.”

Feronti is an lawyer pinch nan Northern Justice Project, a civilian authorities firm, but is acting abstracted from that work, he said. 

“I want to beryllium clear that I genuinely respect nan men and women who measurement up to service successful rule enforcement and to support our communities safe. They merit our awesome thanks. And they person my awesome thanks. However, nan nationalist besides deserves transparency erstwhile prime officers deny nan nationalist trust,” Feronti said.

Feronti’s suit, which names nan Department of Public Safety arsenic a defendant, was revenge successful Anchorage Superior Court past week and referred to Judge Thomas Matthews. No further proceedings person been scheduled. 

The 2 troopers are scheduled to beryllium arraigned successful tribunal connected Sept. 10.