JUNEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT
6255 ALAWAY AVENUE JUNEAU, ALASKA 99801
Business (907) 586-0600
Fax (907) 463-4808
Integrity, Courage, Service, Respect
INFORMATION RELEASE
Date: 2020-08-21
From: Lieutenant Krag Campbell
Case or Incident: #200820-007
On 08/20/20, at about 11:53 AM, the Juneau Police Department received a report of shoplift that occurred in the 150 block of S. Franklin Street. The store owner reported to police that the male shoplifter had come into the store and had stolen a bottle of alcohol. The male was reported to be acting strange and not wearing a shirt, so the store owner and employees were reluctant to contact him.
Police responded to the area of Front Street and located 23-year-old James Matthew Casto matching the description of the shoplifter. Police attempted to speak with Casto about the incident, but Casto was uncooperative and then attempted to leave after being told he was not free to go. Officers used a taser to restrain Casto and while handcuffing him, Casto grabbed a hold of the officer's taser. After a short struggle in the middle of Front Street, Casto was placed into handcuffs.
Casto was arrested on the charges of theft in the 4th degree, resisting arrest, assault in the 4th degree (against a police officer) and violating conditions of release. Casto's conditions of release are related to an incident on 06/03/20, where it is alleged that he committed a robbery outside the downtown warming shelter.
Casto was taken to the jail and held without bail.
All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.