Press Release

Office of Special Prosecutions Completes Review of Officer-Involved Shooting Near Healy

August 7, 2024

(Anchorage, AK) – The Office of Special Prosecutions has completed its review of an officer-involved shooting from Nov. 1, 2023, involving Michael Grimes and Alaska State Trooper Sergeant Aaron Mobley, Trooper Scott McAfee, Trooper Trevor Norris, and North Slope Borough Police Department Officer John-Ashton Swope near Healy. 

The review determined that the officers were legally justified in their use of deadly force against Mr. Grimes, which occurred during a traffic stop.  The investigation concluded that Mr. Grimes’ death was caused by a self-inflicted gunshot, not from the officers’ use of force.  The Alaska State Troopers, the North Slope Police Borough, the involved officers and Mr. Grimes’ next of kin have all been notified of the review.

CONTACT: Chief Assistant Attorney General Jenna Gruenstein, at (907) 269-6250 or jenna.gruenstein@alaska.gov.

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Department Media Contact: Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.

Due to resource constraints, we no longer post links to referenced records. Records filed in a federal court are readily available at Docket Search or PACER, and records filed in a State of Alaska court are readily available from the Alaska Court System (Trial Courts - Alaska Court System and Search for an Appellate Case). Contact Sam Curtis to request a referenced record that is not readily available from a court or on the internet, or contact law.recordsrequest@alaska.gov to submit a formal Alaska Public Records Act request.