Lewey, Warner, and Edgar Matoomealook arrested during joint APD-USPS investigation

Following the July 4th weekend, United States Postal Inspectors and APD Detectives have been jointly investigating multiple burglaries at the Russian Jack Post Office. Inspectors coordinated with APD patrol officers about the time and location where the burglaries were most likely to occur.

At 12:52 AM on July 11, 2022, a K9 Officer drove through the parking lot of the Russian Jack Post Office located at 801 Northway Drive due to the previous break-ins there.  The officer saw a male, later identified as 37-year-old Lewey A. Matoomealook, walking near the southeast corner of the building.  The officer contacted Lewey, and while they were having a conversation, the officer saw a second male walking away from the northeast corner of the building.  That male, later identified as 30-year-old Warner L. Matoomealook, was carrying an armload of what appeared to be packages.

The officer called for backup and then moved toward Warner who dropped what he had been holding and continued walking east.  The officer identified himself and gave a K9 warning.  Upon hearing the K9 warning, Warner became compliant.  Both Warner and Lewey followed the officer’s instructions and sat down on the curb; they were handcuffed once additional units arrived.  The Postal Inspector also responded to the scene.

While authorities walked through the Post Office to assess what had happened there, the two men, who are related, were transported to the Anchorage Police Department for questioning by APD Detectives and Postal Inspectors.  Officers discovered forced entry had been made through one of the Post Office’s doors.  Several stolen packages had been discarded in the parking lot, some of which had been opened.

After the interviews were concluded, Lewey Matoomealook was remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the charges of Burglary II, Criminal Trespass I, and Theft III.  Warner Matoomealook was remanded at the jail on two outstanding felony warrants.  He was additionally charged with two counts each of Burglary II, Criminal Trespass I, and Theft III. 

About 90 minutes before the most recent post office burglary was discovered, the same K9 officer saw a third relative, 38-year-old Edgar H. Matoomealook, at the Holiday gas station at 1405 Bragaw Street. The officer initially thought Edgar was Warner whom the officer knew had outstanding warrants. During the K9 officer’s contact with Edgar, Edgar gave a name that was not his own.  Eventually Edgar’s identify was confirmed and a computer check showed he had an outstanding warrant. Edgar was remanded at the Anchorage Jail on that warrant, and he was additionally charged with False Information.

 APD Cases 22-22394 and 22-22399