Suspect in Alaska police slayings had run-in last year with slain officers

Ambush suspect had run-in with slain officers

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A man charged in the slayings of two police officers in a tiny Alaska village was accused of viciously attacking the same two officers last year, court records show.

But assault and other charges filed against John Marvin Jr. in the alleged attack last year on officers Tony Wallace and Matt Tokuoka were dismissed in December.

The prosecutor assigned to the case declined Monday to say why the charges were dropped.

“Our office is reeling, and I’m not prepared to talk about it,” said Amy Williams, an assistant district attorney. She added she doesn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize the new case against Marvin.

Court documents allege both officers were injured in the August 2009 attack after they responded to a call from a woman who said Marvin entered her home without permission. The attack ended when Marvin was subdued with multiple hits from the officers’ stun guns and Wallace, a college wrestler, contained him in a “thigh lock,” court records said.

The documents also note Marvin’s “mental health issues.”

Marvin, 45, is accused of shooting Wallace and Tokuoka on Saturday night, then barricading himself in his home. He surrendered Monday morning following a standoff with authorities.