JUNEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT
6255 ALAWAY AVENUE JUNEAU, ALASKA 99801
Business (907) 586-0600
Fax (907) 463-4808
Integrity, Courage, Service, Respect
INFORMATION RELEASE
Date: 2014-08-25
From: Lt. Kris Sell
Case or Incident: #140810-008
+++++++++++++++++++++++UPDATE+++++++++++++UPDATE+++++++++++
The picture of the suspect who took a gold nugget from a downtown Juneau jewelry store generated a great deal of attention over the weekend and multiple tips about the suspect's identity. One of the people interested in the press was the suspect himself who called the jewelry store and provided a credit card number to pay for the gold nugget. Investigators will now work with the prosecutor's office, examine the suspect's criminal record, and do additional research to determine what, if any criminal charges, will be filed. Tipsters quoted a Facebook account that put the suspect, a former Juneau resident, in Juneau to fish the annual derby. His name is not being released pending a decision about charges.
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On August 10th, 2014, at about 7:30 in the evening a man who appeared to be in his sixties took a gold nugget worth almost five thousand dollars from a jewelry store in the 200 block of Front Street. The man took the nugget from a display case, appeared to try and get the clerk?s attention, then put the nugget in his pocket and left the store.
An employee of the store says the same man made a purchase the day before providing the name of George Bentsen for that transaction. JPD patrol officers have been unable to locate a George Bentsen in Juneau.
All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.