Man medevaced to Seattle with head injury after being thrown to the ground by JPD during confrontation

Video of incident near Douglas Public Library shared widely on social media; police say man acted aggressively toward officer and resisted arrest

The Douglas Public Library, where a confrontation Wednesday evening led to a man suffering a head injury while being detained by a Juneau Police Department officer. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

A 49-year-old man was medevaced to Seattle with a head injury after he was thrown to the ground by a Juneau Police Department officer during an encounter Wednesday evening, according to a news release by the department.

The incident near the Douglas Public Library was filmed by a bystander and shared widely on local social media. The JPD release states the incident "is currently under investigation."

"All uses of force by JPD officers go through a review and investigation process to determine if they are appropriate," Deputy Police Chief Krag Campbell stated in an email to the Independent. "This investigation will follow the same process."

The man’s condition was not immediately known.

JPD responded to the scene after receiving a report at 7:32 p.m. of a woman and man fighting in front of the library. The release states Marisa Didrickson, 47, and a 52-year-old Juneau man were involved in the fight.

"It was reported to JPD that Didrickson had thrown water in the face of the 52-year-old male and made racial comments about the 52-year-old male being black and not belonging in Juneau," the release states.  "Didrickson was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct."

"As officers were attempting to place Didrickson into the back of the patrol car, they were followed by a friend of Didrickson's, identified as a 49-year-old male Juneau resident," the release adds. "Didrickson continued to cuss and yell at the 52-year-old male, and told the 49-year-old male to, ‘Take care of him,’ while nodding back in the direction of the 52-year-old male."

The 49-year-old male was ordered to walk away from the older man, but failed to comply and instead aggressively came at the officer, according to JPD.

"The officer attempted to place the 49-year-old male under arrest and into handcuffs," the release states. "The 49-year-old male resisted and was taken to the ground."

The injured man was taken by Capital City Fire/Rescue to Bartlett Regional Hospital and then flown to Seattle.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.