A Napakiak man who dragged another man behind his sinking boat was stopped on the Kuskokwim River late Sunday after a short pursuit, troopers said.
A troopers dispatch said 22-year-old Kyle Paul was detained by Bethel-based Alaska Wildlife Troopers. At about 6:40 p.m., they spotted a craft "that was driving in circles, bow high, and dragging a person that was hanging from the stern of the boat."
"When approached and directed to stop, (Paul) failed to yield and a brief pursuit ensued before the vessel was disabled by removing the gas line from the outboard engine," troopers wrote. "Prior to the pursuit, the passenger was able to self-extricate and get himself back into the boat."
When troopers stopped the boat, they noted that both men were "fortunately" wearing life jackets — because the boat had already taken on 10 inches of water and was taking on more.
"Investigation into the matter revealed that both occupants were highly intoxicated and the operator failed administered (field sobriety tests)," troopers wrote. "In the course of the arrest, Paul became combative and spit saliva in the mouth of a (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer) assisting in the apprehension."
According to an email from troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters, the boat, which was first spotted about 10 miles downriver from Napakiak, ended up grounding after a law-enforcement officer removed the fuel hose.
Troopers said Paul was charged with boating under the influence, failure to yield, refusal to submit to an alcohol test and harassment. An Alaska inmate database said he had been released on his own recognizance Monday.
Paul's passenger was not charged with a crime, but was taken to a sleep-off facility.