Alaska State Troopers on Thursday identified the man shot by troopers the day before in Nikiski as Brian Tupper, a 37-year-old from Soldotna who was wanted on drug and trespassing charges and for eluding police.
Troopers said they received a tip around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday that Tupper was at a Nikiski home. Troopers and Kenai Police Department officers went to the Kenai Peninsula community to arrest Tupper, according to an online dispatch posted by troopers Thursday. A spokeswoman for the troopers declined to provide a more precise location for the home.
"As troopers were forming a perimeter to contact Tupper, Tupper drove a vehicle at an Alaska State Trooper and multiple troopers fired their service weapons in response," the dispatch said.
Troopers said Tupper was shot but they declined to say how many times or by how many troopers.
The Nikiski Fire Department was called to the shooting around 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, according to Assistant Chief Trent Burnett. He said the department responded to an "area off Island Lake Road," but he said a more specific location would have to come from troopers.
Burnett said the fire department took Tupper back to the station, where he was transported by a LifeMed Alaska helicopter to a hospital. He declined to say which hospital received Tupper.
Troopers said Tupper was wanted on felony warrants for charges of misconduct involving a controlled substance, driving with no valid license, criminal trespassing and eluding/evading an officer.
Tupper has a lengthy criminal history in Alaska, including convictions for driving under the influence and theft, according to court records.
Troopers said in Thursday's dispatch that Tupper was receiving medical treatment. The troopers who shot at Tupper were put on administrative leave for 72 hours, per department policy.
Megan Peters, troopers spokeswoman, declined to answer additional questions about the Nikiski shooting and said that the Thursday online dispatch was "all the information currently available."
Troopers said the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, a trooper division, is investigating.