A Wasilla man was arrested Friday after two Soldotna-area residents reported earlier in the week that someone had broken into their homes and sexually assaulted them while they slept, Alaska State Troopers said, and investigators believe there may be more victims.
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Michael Ingersol, 35, will face charges of second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault and two counts of first-degree burglary in addition to being charged with felony eluding, troopers said in an online report Saturday.
The first break-in and assault was reported last Sunday, June 11, according to troopers. The suspect “bypassed the locked front door at an apartment and began sexually assaulting the victim while they slept,” troopers said. When the victim woke up and confronted the suspect, he fled, troopers said.
The second assault was reported later that day by a victim on the opposite side of Soldotna, according to troopers. The suspect again fled after the victim woke up and confronted him, troopers said.
Authorities in Soldotna, Anchorage and Mat-Su began looking for Ingersol after the Alaska Bureau of Investigation identified him as a suspect in the assaults, troopers said. On Wednesday, the Anchorage Police Department found Ingersol in the Anchorage area but he eluded police in a vehicle, troopers said. The next day, investigators determined Ingersol had traveled to Bethel and then on to Hooper Bay, according to troopers.
Troopers based in Hooper Bay arrested Ingersol without incident Friday evening, the agency said in its report.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet reported to law enforcement what happened. Troopers asked anyone with additional information that could help in the investigation to call them at 907-262-4453 and reference case AK230589.
Troopers said Saturday that Ingersol would be remanded to the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center in Bethel on an outstanding warrant in addition to the new charges, which were not yet visible in online court records as regional disruptions to internet service continue to affect Bethel and other communities.