Army: Soldier Didn’t Have Permission To Be Miller Security Guard

Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger sits with his hands cuffed.
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The Army has found that a solider who served as part of Joe Miller’s private security detail at a recent town hall, when members of the team handcuffed and detained a journalist, did not have authorization to work as a private contractor.

According to the Alaska Daily News, Maj. Rodney Crum, a spokesman for the Army in Alaska, says that Spc. Tyler Ellingboe had no authorization whatsoever. Sgt. Alexander Valdez didn’t have authorization from his current commander, but had received it from a previous commander about two years ago.

The Army is still deciding whether to discipline either Valdez or Ellingboe.

The two were working as employees of DropZone Security, which doubles as an army surplus store and bail bonds agency. Miller, Alaska’s Republican Senate nominee, hired DropZone for a recent town hall event, during which they detained Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger after he repeatedly tried to question and video Miller.

The TPM Poll Average shows Murkowski leading Miller 36.9%-31.7%. Democrat Scott McAdams trails at 25.5%.

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: