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James Barnum Charged in Merrill Field Inn Police ShootingFaces attempted murder and assault chargesRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - An Anchorage man with a lengthy criminal record has been charged with attempted murder of an Anchorage police officer and two counts of assault in Thursday’s shootout and standoff at the Merrill Field Inn. Jason Walter Barnum shot and wounded an Anchorage police officer in the incident. APD won’t release the police officers name, per department protocol, but sources tell KTVA it is Senior Patrol Officer Dan Thyen, who has been with the force for more than 10 years. Thyen was grazed by a bullet and released from Providence Hospital Thursday afternoon. Barnum opened fire from a bathroom in room 209 of the Merrill Field Inn after officers had entered the motel room, using a gun police said was stolen in a Wednesday Hillside robbery. Police returned fire, wounding him in one arm, despite previous speculation that he had been hit in both. He was taken to Alaska Regional to recover and was arrested and taken to jail after being treated. He was arraigned Friday at Anchorage Jail Court. According to charging documents, break-ins early in the week are what brought police to the East Anchorage motel. They had spotted a car “associated with the break-ins.” Three officers went to investigate the room, where three criminals with outstanding warrants were hiding. Stephanie Callis, who was in room 209 during the confrontation, said all three people knew officers were outside. Callis had a outstanding warrant for failing to appear after being charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon. According to charging documents, after arriving is when things got “confusing.” Barnum and Callis fled to the bathroom, while the third man, Sam Williams Jr., attempted to stall officers. He allegedly told officers that Callis was sick; at that time she began faking vomiting sounds. Barnum later confirmed that he told the woman to do so. Police demanded she come out of the bathroom and at that time Barnum fired his weapon. In an interview later, Barnum told officers he is a heroin addict and the robberies were supplying his habit. He told a jail court judge Friday that he is unemployed and admitted to being a burglar. On his Facebook page he wrote “I work in Hell,” and “I is the Devil.” Barnum has a long criminal record dating back to 1993, including resisting arrest, larceny and various theft and burglary charges. Barnum is also charged with providing officers false information and possession of an illegal substance, both misdemeanors, and is being held on $500,000 bail. He was appointed a public defender and will be back in court on September 18. |
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Mike J said on Friday, Sep 14 at 5:00 PM
Trying to hide in the bathroom? Looking for a window, trying to flush something, or just plain stupid? Not impressed with the facial tatoos, and makes it all the easier to identify him. No job (what a surprise), no problem stealing from lawful folks to feed his drug habits. Lets hope that the courts finally ensure that Barnum and friends locked up for nice long time.
101861776Anonymous said on Friday, Sep 14 at 6:57 PM
its sad to see that someone has to tattoo their face and then EYE to feel like they are a part of someone or something! you are kiddo...part of us...humanity! Now sorry that someone brainwashed you to have such low self esteem that you have to be high to survive! We are getting worse as a humanity in doing this! And allowing it, or ignoring it will not make it go away...just crawl up on your front porch in the end... What folks miss is two questions: what is wrong? What is lacking? fill in the blanks...what I see? a kid who needs a chemical work up in jail and tell the lab to check the levels of minerals... Remember the kids that ate clay that we laughed at and told "silly - you don't eat clay" didn't think anything of it? Well fast forward to today's drug levels and crime levels...do the math and realize biological deficiencies are what make people act and do what they do...good or bad! Actually, with Alaska needs to find out what minerals they got here, and make some products!
101869916TedtheBear said on Saturday, Sep 15 at 9:03 AM
Actually, Mr. Barnum isn't as weird or dumb as he may look. I have known this fellow for very long time within the prison confines. There is a logic to his madness. Most of his tattoos are prison tats. I know that he is a very insecure guy with a lot of issues. He uses his tats, his weirdness and his acting out as a cover to protect himself from prison predators. During the times I had a chance to talk with him, he always appears to be quite intelligence and entitled. Drugs have always been his bane. Actually, I am quite surprise that he is out of prison. He got long enough track record that any sort of parole would be impossible due to his high risk nature. He is no "kid". A veteran convict who will probably die in our correctional system someday. Pretty sad..really!
101904525HTH said on Sunday, Sep 16 at 10:34 AM
how the hell did this turn into a shoot out
101964125TedtheBear said on Sunday, Sep 16 at 4:04 PM
HTH, you got to read the article, son.
101978896Joseph said on Saturday, Sep 29 at 11:14 AM
I grew up living across the street from Jason. He was unsure of his hate then...we actually were friends and now I read this and see how much hate grew in his heart...and I will hope and pray he realizes his actions.
102940196humanlikeyou said on Wednesday, Jan 16 at 9:58 AM
Jason, I am praying for you, praying for your soul. God Loves You.
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