Neighbor dispute in Haines ends with weapon fired, trooper says

Two neighbors in Haines have had an ongoing dispute about the actual property line between them. Last week, that dispute escalated to talks of a “shoot out,” then a weapon fired at a vehicle, according to an Alaska State Trooper’s report.

A Juneau grand jury indicted Jay J. Linhart, 58, on four felony counts of third-degree assault stemming from an Aug. 30 encounter near the Klehini River close to Linhart’s home. According to a report and investigation by Alaska State Trooper Andrew Neason, Linhart confronted three men and one young boy near his property that evening and threatened to shoot one man in the group — his neighbor Robert Harris — and the tires of the Jeep they were traveling in if they didn’t leave immediately.

The men in the group told Trooper Neason that Linhart approached them while wearing a rifle across his right shoulder and a revolver in a holster at his side, according to the police complaint. A friend of Linhart’s who was with him when he made the alleged threat said Linhart said they needed to leave because “there was going to be a shoot out.”

One of the men in the group told Neason he saw Linhart take aim at the group’s Jeep. The group of men crouched behind the engine of the Jeep, then the sound of a weapon fired was followed by air escaping a tire.

The men then fled in various directions, Neason reported.

Linhart initially refused to leave his home when Neason and officers from the Haines Borough Police Department investigated the area, the police report states. Neason reported that Linhart was not armed with a firearm when investigators approached him, but he did have a medium-sized hunting knife with him. He denied the shooting when police arrested him.

Linhart made his first felony appearance before Juneau District Court Judge Keith Levy on Aug. 31 for an initial arraignment, but a second arraignment in Superior Court will follow. That court date was not updated in online records by the end of the business day on Wednesday.

Second indictment

• Jeffrey S. Roberts, 32, was also indicted Wednesday for felony driving under the influence in the Juneau area on Aug. 5; he’d been convicted twice before for drunken driving in the past 10 years. That is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine. Roberts is scheduled to appear in Juneau Superior Court for his felony arraignment Sept. 19.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Nov. 10

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Nov. 11, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A map shows Alaska had the largest increase in drug overdose deaths among the five states reporting increases during the 12-month period ending in June. Overdoses nationally declined for a second straight year. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map)
Drug overdose deaths in Alaska jump 38.68% in a year as nationwide rate drops 14%

National experts see hope in second annual decline as Alaska officials worry about ongoing crisis.

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 15. The school now houses all students in grades 7-8, who were in two middle schools last year, and the students at Thunder Mountain last year when it was a high school have been consolidated into Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Report: 11 high school fights during first quarter of school year, up from 3 each of past two years

Consolidation seen as possible factor; middle school incidents more typical compared to recent years

People gather outside Resurrection Lutheran Church as it hosts its weekly food pantry on Tuesday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Resurrection Lutheran Church leadership dispute intensifies with accusations of assault, theft, sabotage

Pastor removed, lawsuit lingers as competing groups try to continue worship services, food pantry.

Nick Begich, center, the Republican candidate for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat, talks with supporters during a meet-and-greet Oct. 12 at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Updated vote counts show Begich, repeal of ranked choice voting likely to prevail

Most ballots uncounted on Election Day have now been tallied, with final results due Nov. 20.

Letters of support are posted to the window of the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, following a shooting incident on Monday, Nov. 11 at 5:45 a.m. in Homer. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Man arrested for three shooting incidents at reproductive clinic, recovery organization in Homer

Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic was targeted twice Monday, suspect cites “religious beliefs.”

Most Read