Police have arrested a man they say robbed an Anchorage tanning salon clerk in late October.
Brandon P. Collins Jr., 45, is accused of throwing an employee to the ground during a strong-arm robbery Oct. 27 at the Color Me Tan shop in East Anchorage, said Lt. David Parker, a police spokesman.
"(The clerk) told him the money in the register was locked up and the manager was on her way to get it," Parker said. "So then he just took the money out of her purse."
Collins stole $50 cash from the woman, Parker said.
Collins' criminal history includes a rape conviction in a 1990 Anchorage case.
In that case, Collins approached a woman working alone in a Midtown office and asked her to use the phone before attacking her, according to Associated Press reports at the time. Prosecutors said Collins stole about $10 cash from the victim's purse, the AP reported.
It was not immediately clear how long Collins was in prison following his conviction. A Department of Corrections spokesman could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Parker said there was no evidence of attempted sexual assault in the October tanning salon robbery. "That was a concern of the detectives. They were aware of the earlier charge," he said.
In the recent case, Collins approached the salon and asked the clerk for a tour of the business, Parker said. A customer was at the salon at the time, he said.
When the customer left, Collins returned and robbed the clerk, Parker said.
Police on Monday circulated surveillance photos of Collins, asking for the public's help in tracking him down. Tipsters helped identify the Anchorage resident and a special assignments unit -- a group that includes SWAT officers -- arrested Collins late Tuesday afternoon in South Anchorage, Parker said.
Collins is charged with second-degree robbery, a felony, court records show.
Police are asking anyone who is aware of other crimes committed by Collins to call the department at 786-8900.
Twitter updates: twitter.com/adn_kylehopkins. Call Kyle Hopkins at 257-4334 or email him at khopkins@adn.com.
By KYLE HOPKINS