Anchorage police release more details on latest officer-involved shooting

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The fifth officer-involved shooting in less than eight weeks happened early Monday morning when police were called to a gas station on Bragaw Street.

It started, according to police, when 51-year-old Damien Dollison pointed a shotgun at another man who was sitting in a parked vehicle at the gas station. Dollison is currently facing three counts of third-degree felony assault.

Officers say both men had guns and that at least one shot was fired as they argued.

A short time later, Dollison went into the store with the shotgun and a frightened clerk called police.

“He heard and reported to dispatch that there was one shot fired from the shotgun,” APD Chief-Designee Sean Case said. “So as the officers arrived on scene, that’s the basic information that they had.”

Security video obtained by Alaska’s News Source shows Dollison in the parking lot of the gas station minutes before police arrive. He can be seen heading towards Bragaw Street when the first patrol cars come on scene.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Case outlined what happened when they attempted to approach Dollison.

“And as they approach the defendant in their vehicles, a round was fired from the shotgun and officers returned fire, striking him at least twice — at least that’s what we know at this point in time, striking him at least twice,” Case said.

Later in the day on Monday, evidence markers showed what looked to be numerous shell casings scattered throughout a parking lot. Police confirmed the shattered windshield of a patrol car was caused by a responding officer shooting at the suspect from inside the car, although Case said Dollison was likely struck by shots fired after the officers left their vehicle.

Case said public safety is the priority when officers must make quick decisions involving an armed suspect. He said the shooting was captured on video which will be released to the public, adding that an updated policy on releasing body camera video should be available in about a week, although he did not give a specific date.

The Anchorage Assembly is also proposing new rules regarding the release of body cam footage to include making public all the video captured during recent police shootings. When asked to comment, Case said he thought the Assembly’s proposal had some good ideas.

The spate of recent police-involved shootings this year, include:

• The fatal East Anchorage shooting of 34-year-old Kristopher Handy on May 13
• The downtown shooting that injured 22-year-old Kaleb Bourdukofsky on June 1
• The fatal Fairview shooting that left 21-year-old Tyler May dead on June 3
• The fatal armed standoff in Northeast Anchorage that left 58-year-old Lisa Fordyce-Blair dead on June 19
• The shooting in East Anchorage that injured 51-year-old Damien Dollison on July 8

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