Anchorage

Possibly armed runaway taken into custody without incident

A 12-year-old Anchorage runaway thought to possibly be carrying a handgun Friday morning was taken into police custody in the afternoon, a police spokeswoman said.

Officers had been canvassing South Anchorage asking for the public's help Friday morning in finding the boy, police spokeswoman Dani Myren said. He had been seen walking near the 9600 block of Victor Road, possibly headed to a bus station, Myren said.

His guardian originally reported him missing Friday morning, and police had reason to think he might have a gun, Myren said. Police had warned that anyone who saw the boy should not be confront him.

"Police are concerned (he) poses a serious threat to himself and others," Myren said.

In a written statement just before 2 p.m., police said they had found the boy and taken him into custody without incident. An "alert citizen" had spotted him, police said.

Myren would not say if the boy was in fact carrying a gun.

"Because of his age, there are some sensitive elements," Myren said. "What's important is that he was found."

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Reach Tegan Hanlon at thanlon@adn.com or 257-4589.

By TEGAN HANLON and CASEY GROVE

thanlon@adn.com

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

Casey Grove

Casey Grove is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. He left the ADN in 2014.

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