Two arrested for attempted Willow burglary

Two Talkeetna men have been arrested and charged in connection with an attempted burglary in Willow last month. According to the Alaska State Troopers, 45-year-old Lowell Scott Johnson and 25-year-old Joshua Pate were arrested on Monday without incident. Johnson and Pate are charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, third-degree assault, and tampering with evidence.

Troopers say the crime the men are accused of occurred on November 9^th. According to the initial report on that day, two men attempted to enter a residence on Pass The Bait Avenue in Willow, but left after encountering the homeowner.

The arrest report accuses Johnson and Pate of entering the residence and assaulting the occupant in an attempt to steal property. Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters says that the homeowner was armed, and that the accused men fled. Both men are being held on bail at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility.