It was on late Sunday night, November 30th that Alaska State Troopers received a call from 35-year-old Eagle River resident Jeremy Rutherford. Rutherford told troopers that he had shot 29-year-old Palmer resident Robert Edwards in the face while moose hunting in the Chistochina River Drainage. Rutherford told troopers that he had shot Edwards in the face after Edwards had pointed a pistol at him while they were drinking.

Troopers traveled to the Chistochina River Trail-head to meet with Rutherford. When they arrived at the trail-head, they observed that Rutherford “had injuries consistent with a physical altercation,” according to the trooper dispatch. It was also noticed that Rutherford had the strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

After speaking with Rutherford, troopers traveled by snow machine to the hunting camp. When they arrived at the camp, they contacted Edwards and another man there. Troopers observed that Edwards had a “bandage on his head” and looked as if he had been in an altercation as well. He also smelled strongly of alcohol, troopers say.

Troopers transported Edwards to the Crossroad Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. When the medical staff there treated Edwards, they found that his injuries were not consistent with a gunshot, but instead were injuries most likely received from a physical altercation.

At the conclusion of the trooper’s initial investigation, both Edwards and Rutherford were arrested on charges of Assault III and IV as well as Misconduct Involving Weapons IV.

But, were transported to the Glennallen Post where they were remanded pending arraignment.

At arraignment the next day, the court would set both men’s bail at $2,500, their next court appearance is set for December 11th.

  arrest, assault, crime, jeremy rutherford, moose hunters, robert edwards, troopers, weapons misconduct