Police called to Assembly meeting when man accused of violently threatening city leaders shows up in mask
- Mark Sabbatini
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Start of meeting delayed for an hour until KC Kregar, arrested earlier this month at City Hall, leaves under JPD escort
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
The first Juneau Assembly meeting after the election got off to a contentious — and late — start when a man who Mayor Beth Weldon said has been "violently threatening" city leaders showed up wearing a full facemask asserting his right to confront them.
KC Kregar departed Centennial Hall voluntarily under the escort of several Juneau Police Department officers who were called when he showed up before the scheduled start of the meeting at 6 p.m. Monday. The meeting was delayed for an hour due to his presence.
"The decision was made to wait until JPD was here in case something was up for the safety of all of the community members that are here tonight," Municipal Attorney Emily Wright told reporters just before the meeting started.
Kregar, in an interview before his departure, said he has been collecting details of a wide range of allegedly illegal activities by various city officials, and has been rebuffed in his attempts to raise his concerns at public meetings and municipal government offices. He said his goal in attending Monday night’s meeting was to share his experience with a large number of people attending to testify about their opposition to the redevelopment of Telephone Hill.
"These guys are gonna learn it too and they're gonna be upset in a year or two, just like me," he said. "They're gonna get arrested at City Hall if they go to try to get a freaking formal complaint form. They're gonna have to go to court."
Kregar, who had removed his mask while talking to reporters, was sitting in the front row of the audience seats when he was approached by Wright, Deputy City Manager Robert Barr and three JPD officers. Barr handed Kregar a trespassing notice and he was told by an officer he would be arrested if he didn’t voluntarily leave the convention center.
"I’m going to go because I don’t want to be put in court again," Kregar told the officer.
Weldon began the meeting a few moments after Kregar left, telling the audience that city officials weren’t comfortable conducting the meeting due to his threats.
"We will carry on with a peaceful meeting and look forward to your testimony," she said.
Kregar was arrested Oct. 16 on a misdemeanor trespassing charge at City Hall, taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center and released the same day, according to JPD and court records. Wright said the trespass order was "for a pattern of continuous harassment and threats towards staff."
"It started last week and then continued, and then tonight his behavior towards Assembly members — coming out in a full mask and goggles, staring at the Assembly members, taking their photos — affects their feelings and their ability to carry on into the meeting, and so it was a continuation of the threats and harassment."
Kregar can still participate in Assembly and other public meetings remotely, and is still legally allowed to communicate with members, Wright said.
"He's still able to call, he's still able to email, he's still able to turn in any information," she said.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
