A Skagway man pleaded not guilty Monday to multiple charges stemming from an alleged shooting at local police in September.
Eric Craig Estep was arraigned Monday in Juneau Superior Court.
Last month, he was indicted on two counts of assault in the first degree, a class C felony. According to charging documents, Estep recklessly placed Skagway police officer Brian Williams in fear of imminent serious physical injury by means of a dangerous instrument.
The second assault charge is the same, but the subject is the other responding police officer, Tom White.
According to charging documents, on September 29, police responded to Estep’s home after receiving reports he was suicidal, intoxicated, and armed with two guns and knives. He was allegedly requesting police to respond.
Arriving at the residence, police requested Estep come to the door to talk. At that time, police say he yelled that he wanted the officers to kill him.
According to police, Estep emerged from the residence with a shotgun, and proceeded to fire two shots. Both officers said they feared for their lives, believing they were being shot at as they ducked out of the way. Estep surrendered after a brief standoff. According to court documents, he admitted to shooting in an attempt to provoke the officers to shoot and kill him.
Estep also faces a charge of misconduct involving a weapon in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor. That’s for possessing a firearm when intoxicated to the point of physical or mental impairment. He was allegedly in possession of a 12-gauge shot gun and a rifle both loaded with ammunition. According to charging documents, Estep admitted to consuming 16 beers and had a breath alcohol content of 0.165.
His trial is scheduled for January 17 in Juneau Superior Criminal Court.