After a lengthy investigation, an arrest was made in two overdose deaths in Skagway.

 

Approximately 17 months after the death of two Skagway men from fentanyl, a suspect was arrested. Jacob Cotton, 33, was taken into custody at the Juneau Airport by Skagway Police Chief Jerry Reddick and Officer James Michels. Cotton is charged with two counts of manslaughter and misconduct involving a controlled substance. He is being held at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau.

Reddick was pleased with the development.

“It’s something that the families needed,” he says. “It’s something that our community needed.”

Anthony Bowers, 28, and James Cook, 44, died of overdoses the weekend of Jan. 13, 2023. Details have not been released as the case is still under investigation. Bowers and Cook were the first Skagway deaths officially linked to fentanyl.

According to the police department, Cotton provided fentanyl to Bowers, who then gave it to Cook.

Reddick says Cotton is officially a resident of Washington State, but was doing work in northern Alaska. Cotton lived in Skagway intermittently and moved away a few years before the deaths.

Reddick says he understands when people get frustrated an arrest didn’t happen sooner. There is a process to follow. Once evidence is compiled, it must be sent to federal authorities, who decide if federal charges will be filed. The federal authorities declined, and it became the jurisdiction of the state district attorney.

At times, Reddick says he was frustrated. He approached the state senator’s office for help. 

“The main thing is that, you know, it takes our entire community to make this possible,” he says. “We work diligently. I can’t praise Officer Michels enough for his dedication, his hard work. And this, I mean, there’s countless hours in this.”

Cotton’s next hearing is scheduled for June 14.