Police arrest Homer area thief on new counts

A man charged last month with burglary and vehicle theft faces new charges following his arrest on Sept. 11 in Homer.

In charging documents, Homer Police allege that Niko E. Mogar, 27, resisted when two officers tried to arrest Mogar on Hazel Avenue about 11:19 p.m. last Tuesday. Police eventually put Mogar in handcuffs.

Homer Police Officer Jessica Poling attempted to arrest Mogar on a warrant for criminal trespassing and violating conditions of release when she contacted him. Police added more charges of resisting arrest and fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, meth, following his apprehension and subsequent discovery of a small baggie of .18 grams of a crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.

Last month, police charged Mogar with first-degree vehicle theft, three counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree theft, all felonies, and a count of third-degree theft. Police claim Mogar was part of a string of burglaries in the East End Road area. His defendant on a vehicle theft charge, Travis K. Catron, 25, also was charged with burglary, vehicle theft, second-degree theft and fourth-degree theft. Police said Catron had rifled through cars in downtown Homer and on the Spit, stealing everything from candy to guns.

Mogar was released from jail on Sept. 10. In a press release, Alaska State Troopers wrote that early on Sept. 11 they learned Mogar had trespassed at a relative’s home, thus potentially violating conditions of release that he not break state or federal laws. Homer District Court Judge Margaret Murphy issued an arrest warrant for Mogar later that day.

In a criminal complaint, Poling wrote that she saw a man she recognized as Mogar walking on the Hazel Avenue sidewalk carrying several large bags. Homer Police Officer Morgan Tracy arrived for back-up and the officers tried to arrest him. Poling wrote Mogar took a step backward when she tried to put him in handcuffs.

“Officer Tracy assisted him to the ground,” Poling wrote, but Mogar got up and ran behind Safeway.

Tracy caught up with Mogar and Mogar gave up when Tracy threatened him with a Taser. The cops put Mogar in handcuffs and took him to the Homer Jail.

Poling wrote that after removing Mogar’s hat, jacket and other belongings from her patrol vehicle and putting them on the car’s trunk, she saw a small orange plastic baggie with a crystalline substance on her trunk.

According to online records, Mogar is in custody at Wildwood Pretrial Facility in Kenai. On Sept. 13 Mogar filed a request for a bail review, saying he wanted to have electronic monitoring and would be staying at rental cabins on Lakeshore Drive.

Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.

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