INFORMATION RELEASE

On 10/22/18, at about 8:35 PM, the Juneau Police Department received a report of someone breaking windows at the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 5100 Glacier Highway. The caller reported the person breaking the windows was wearing all black clothing, a hat, and was last seen walking towards Glacier Highway.

Officers responded to the area, but were unable to locate anyone matching the description of the suspect. Officers did observe a person riding a bicycle in the area, but the persons clothing description did not match the suspect.

At the church, officers located 21 windows that had been damaged. The damages were estimated at about $10,000. It did not appear that entry into the church was made. A hand written note was found outside the church that appears to be related to the vandalism.

On 10/22/18, at about 11:44 PM, the Juneau Police Department received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Juneau Church of Christ, located 8755 Trinity Drive. The vehicle was reported to be suspicious due to the time of night, and that the occupants of the vehicle were getting in and out of it.

Officers went to the church, but the vehicle was no longer there. Officers did locate two windows had been broken out of the church. The damages were estimated at about $400. It did not appear that entry into the church was made. Nobody was located at the church, but officers did recall seeing a person on a bicycle leaving the area when they first arrived. The description of the person on the bike matched the description of the person seen leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On 10/23/18, at about 12:55 AM, officers were conducting security checks of churches in the Mendenhall Valley and located two broken windows at the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, located at 4212 Mendenhall Loop Road. One of the windows was propped open and a bicycle was lying on the ground near the broken windows. The responding officer observed a female inside the church.

Additional officers responded to the church to assist. The responsible for the church was contacted and confirmed that nobody should be inside the church at that time. The church responsible provided the pass code for the door lock to allow officers to enter the church. Inside the church, officers located 24 year old Juneau resident, Alesa Abbott.

When the officers initially contacted Abbott, she yelled at them to take her to jail and pushed an officer. After a brief struggle with Abbott, officers detained her. Abbott was found to be in possession of a backpack and a crowbar. Abbott was also found to be in possession of a credit/debit card that belonged to the church’s pastor. The damages were estimated at about $500.

Abbott was placed under arrest for burglary 2nd degree, a class C felony, theft 2nd degree, a class C felony, and criminal mischief 4th degree, a class A misdemeanor. Abbot was taken to the jail and held without bail.

Abbott is considered a person of interest in the vandalism from the other churches and those reports are still under investigation.

On 10/23/18, at about 6:40 AM, a business located in the 3400 block of Glacier Highway reported someone had broken a window at their main office building. The damages were estimated at about $750. This case is still under investigation and Abbott is a person of interest.

On 10/23/18, at about 7:50 AM, the Juneau Christian Center located at 8001 Glacier Highway reported two windows were damaged on the main entrance doors. The damages were estimated at about $750. A hand written note was found at the church that was similar to the note found at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This case is still under investigation and Abbott is a person of interest. The details of the notes are not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.