Man wanted in machete attack at Midtown homeless camp still at large

A man accused of using a machete to slash and severely injure a woman at a homeless camp in Midtown Anchorage last week remains at large, with police still asking for the public's help locating him.

Johnathan Anaruk, 19, is charged with one count each of domestic-violence assault in the first, second, third and fourth degrees, as well as third-degree theft in the case.

Officers were initially called to the camp, near 19th Avenue and C Street, around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Police spokeswoman Renee Oistad said Monday afternoon that Anaruk still wasn't in custody.

According to a criminal complaint against Anaruk, written by senior patrol officer Christopher Simmons, the female victim and another man were with Anaruk at the camp when Anaruk became upset with them and walked away with about $900 worth of the man's possessions.

When the woman caught up with Anaruk and asked for the items back, Simmons said Anaruk threatened both her and the other man by saying "they weren't going to survive through the night." At that point, Anaruk allegedly pulled a machete out of his backpack.

"(The woman) began yelling back at Johnathan, at one point saying 'Are you going to cut me with my own machete?' " Simmons wrote. "In response to this, Johnathan struck (the victim) on the arm with the flat side of the machete, and then punched her in the face with a closed fist around the machete handle, and strangled her with his free hand."

When the woman continued to argue, Simmons wrote, Anaruk cut her several times with the machete — slicing into her left hand and left shoulder, as well as opening deep gashes on her head and back.

The other man ran to seek help from passers-by on the Chester Creek Trail, who were able to call 911 and report the assault. Anaruk left the scene before authorities arrived.

Last week police said Anaruk is believed to frequent Midtown, including areas near Gambell Street as well as Fireweed Lane.

Police ask anyone with information on Anaruk's whereabouts to call dispatchers at 907-786-8900, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 907-561-STOP or its website.