INFORMATION RELEASE

On 09/05/18, at 1:34 PM, an employee from Sportsman's Warehouse called JPD to report they had attempted to stop a man who left the store with a basket of unpaid merchandise. When they contacted the man outside the store, they asked for the merchandise back. The man then removed a hatchet from the basket he was carrying and swung it at one of the employees. The man dropped the other merchandise he had been carrying and left the area on foot, still carrying the hatchet. The hatchet was also stolen merchandise.

Officers responded to the area and met with store employees. Officers were directed to the area of some storage units on Jordan Avenue, where the man was last seen. Officers searched the area and spoke with a witness who said they recently saw a man run through the area of the storage units. The witness said they saw the man jump a fence which led to the area of Ka-See-An Drive and Sheiye Way.

Officers went to the area of Ka-See-Ann Drive and located a man walking on the street. The man matched the description of the shoplifter from Sportsman's Warehouse. The man was identified as 28 year old Juneau resident Pavel Bogatko. At the time of the contact, Bogatko was not in possession of a hatchet.

Sportsman's Warehouse employees and in store video surveillance confirmed the identity of Bogatko as the shoplifter.

The stolen merchandise was recovered by store employees and is valued at about $930.05. With the assistance of a witness, JPD located the hatchet in the woods where the witness reported seeing Bogatko jump the fence. None of the store employees were hurt during this incident.

Bogatko was placed under arrest for Robbery 2nd degree, a class B felony and Theft 2nd degree, a class C felony. Bogatko was taken to the jail and held without bail.