Jacob D. Savage, 32, has been charged with one count of second-degree assault, a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Fort Yukon resident Alfred Peter told the local police department that he was riding an ATV when Savage, also on an ATV, pulled in front of him after running a stop sign. Peter then hurried ahead of Savage, at which point Savage reportedly became enraged and began a chase.
Peter drove about three-quarters of a mile away to the home of Fort Yukon Magistrate Dacho Alexander, thinking he would be safe there. Rather than end the pursuit, Savage reportedly punched Peter in face about 15 times. Peter sustained skull fractures and possible brain bleeding as a result of the attack.
When Fort Yukon police Lt. Jeremy Fernandes arrived at Peter’s home, he found a trail of blood from the ATV to the upstairs, where Peter was being treated by his wife. Peter also had a large amount of blood on his clothes, according to a criminal complaint filed in court.
Peter is being treated at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage and might never fully regain sight in one eye, Fernandes said. Savage could face upgraded charges when the case goes before a grand jury for indictment.
Bail for Savage, who has prior misdemeanor convictions for drunken driving and reckless driving, has been set at $10,000.
Fort Yukon, which is located about 150 air miles northeast of Fairbanks, is accessible only by plane or boat.
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.
On this story, it would seem that there is some serious question/disagreement with the 'official released' story. I think that needs to be aired, every time. I wonder if there were any witnesses to this assault?
I think it's very important and a benefit to the whole community that such disagreement with official statements are also given a forum, that dissenting accounts and different prospectives on events can be heard. It does some positive service in keeping both the officials making statements, and the news media, accountable.
I don't know either of the men involved so I have no idea who did what to whom. Most of us have only the 'facts' as reported by the DNM on which to base an opinion. Sometimes what we know is contradicted by what the DNM "knows"...
First of all Peter ran the stop sign and almost hit Savage who had two small children with him. Peter was the one coked up and drunk. When Savage went to tell him off, Peter instigated a fight got his head whopped, and then continued drinking and wrecked his ATV about 12 hours later on his way home and blamed all of his injuries on Savage.
Supposedly he was on his ATV when he got assaulted yet has leg injuries? Yeah sure
Everyone thought he got beat up because he was caught red-handed stealing from fishnets and fishwheels several times this summer.
Both of these men have families and my heart goes out to both of them.
Note to self: Never punch a man that has been drunk and coked up for 20 years. His face may come apart and you might get charged with a felony for defending your family.
Hindisght is 20-20; pardon the pun.