Anchorage Police arrested a man accused of stealing a car and leading police on a early-morning chase through a neighborhood in South Anchorage on Monday morning.
At 1:46 a.m. a police officer spotted a Dodge pickup truck reported stolen around West 88th Avenue and Jewel Lake Road, according to a release from the Anchorage Police Department.
Police identified the driver as Mumaina Folasa, 26, of Anchorage.
When the officer tried to pull the truck over Folasa sped away, taking police on a six-minute long chase.
"During the pursuit the stolen vehicle entered a bike path, went through a homeowner's yard, through a chain link fence and ran several stop signs," the statement said.
The truck ran out of gas at Curlew Circle.
"The driver bailed out and ran on foot," police said.
Officer Lars Tulip and his police dog, Chance, found the man hiding in the storage closet at a home on the 9200 block of Arlene Street.
"When Chance began barking, the suspect spoke up from inside the storage closet and surrendered," police said.
Folasa denied stealing the vehicle and said he ran because he was on probation, according to police.
He faces theft, reckless driving, assault, misconduct involving a controlled suspect and criminal mischief charges, in addition to a probation violation.
Reach Michelle Theriault Boots at mtheriault@adn.com or 257-4344.
By MICHELLE THERIAULT BOOTS