Gordon E. Samel

Deadly force

A drunk driver was reported in Wasilla, Ak, leading troopers to pursue the driver and eventually corner him in an intersection. Cornered, the Samel's truck quickly reversed in the general direction of the officers, prompting them to fire into the cab of the truck, killing Samel and wounding a passenger. Samel suffered from bipolar disorder and was one of the hunters who discovered the body of Chris McCandless, whose death was captured in the book and movie "Into The Wild." Police alleged vehicular assault.