Pastor Arrested After Striking Wife on First-Class Flight

In a shocking incident on July 2, a pastor was arrested for allegedly striking his wife during an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Alaska. The altercation reportedly began when Roger Allan Holmberg, Sr., discovered that his wife had been upgraded to first class.

According to a complaint filed by Anchorage Airport Police, Holmberg became agitated when he saw his wife seated in first class. Witnesses stated that Holmberg angrily asked his wife, “How the hell did you get the upgrade?” She responded, “I’m a Gold Point member. Don’t speak to me like that.” Holmberg then allegedly handed his phone to his wife and gestured obscenely.

Shortly after, Holmberg attempted to strike his wife, allegedly hitting the top of her head. Witnesses reported that Holmberg then went to the first-class lavatory. Upon exiting, a witness warned him, saying, “If there were any further incidents, we would put him in handcuffs.”

Holmberg’s wife told police that he struck her with the back of his knuckles, knowing that she has epilepsy and that any head contact could trigger a seizure. She also revealed a history of abuse, including a previous incident where he broke her finger.

Holmberg told authorities he was upset about the seating arrangement because he wanted his wife to sit next to him. He claimed he only “tapped” her on the head to get her attention, denying any violent intent. Holmberg also mentioned that they were undergoing marriage counseling and that his wife often disrespected him and had anger issues. He referenced an incident where she allegedly grabbed his leg while he was driving, leading to her finger breaking.

Once the flight crew became aware of the incident, they alerted law enforcement. Holmberg was arrested upon landing and charged with simple assault. He was taken to the Anchorage Correctional Center and later released with a restraining order preventing him from coming within 100 yards of his wife.

Alaska Airlines confirmed to ABC News that Holmberg has been banned from their flights, and the FBI filed a simple assault charge against him on July 3rd.