A Selawik man faces multiple assault and weapons charges after a two-hour standoff with Alaska State Troopers.
According to court documents, on Sunday 45-year-old Clarence Snyder Jr. threatened his wife and children with a pistol. One of Snyder’s children allegedly told troopers that Snyder fired the pistol twice in his wife’s direction while she was lying on the floor crying and that both parents were intoxicated at the time.
Troopers and a village police officer responded and helped transport Snyder’s wife and four children to a safe house for the night.
Troopers returned to the residence with a search warrant the next day and Snyder had barricaded himself in the house. He indicated to the troopers that he had several rifles and allegedly said that he was “ready to die today.” Troopers set up a perimeter around the house. A hostage negotiator with the troopers called Snyder and convinced him to turn himself in.
Inside the house, troopers found two recent bullet holes in the floor and located two semi-automatic handguns.
Snyder is charged with two assault charges, three charges of assault in the presence of a child, and two charges of weapons misconduct.
According to court documents Snyder has three prior assault convictions.
Snyder's next court date is tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Kotzebue Courthouse.
