FPD Press Release - Case 20-2480 - Assault w/ Firearm
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Assault w/ Firearm – 15th Ave. & South Cushman – Case 20-2480 DATE: July 14, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Teal Soden, Communications Director, 907-459-6793, tsoden@fairbanks.us
On Tuesday, July 14th, at approximately 3:45pm, the Fairbanks Emergency Communication Center received a report of a male on a bicycle who was assaulting people with a handgun in the area of 15th Avenue and South Cushman. Fairbanks Police officers responded and were initially unable to locate the suspect. When an FPD officer finished interviewing the victim, he began heading back to his patrol vehicle which was parked in the parking lot of the AK Motel. As he approached his vehicle, he observed the suspect attempting to assault a social worker that was at the location on unrelated business.
The officer attempted to intervene in the assault, at which point he observed a firearm in the suspect’s pocket. The suspect refused to comply with officer commands and continued to push the victim between two parked cars. The officer radioed for backup and several other officers arrived quickly. The suspect then began to walk away from officers and reached into his pocket that contained the gun. The officers continued to give the suspect commands and an officer deployed his taser which made effective contact with the suspect. While the officers attempted to arrest the suspect, he continued resisting and trying to reach for his gun. Officers were able to safely retrieve the gun from the suspect’s pocket and get him into handcuffs.
The suspect, OSCAR NED FRANK III (DOB 08/20/75), was booked at Fairbanks Correctional Center on the following charges:
Assault III Resisting Arrest Disorderly Conduct Outstanding AST Warrant (Original Charge – Assault II – Injury w/ a Weapon)
The suspect’s gun was determined to be a realistic looking pistol-style cap gun.
Anyone with additional information about this incident should contact Officer Reuter at creuter@fairbanks.us or 907-450-6500.
