Alaska News

Police: Suspect in deadly downtown beating found hiding in shed

Monday morning update: Anchorage police said they have arrested 39-year-old Kenneth Moto as a suspect in the death of Daniel "Shorty" Stewart. A K9 officer involved in a search on a separate incident found Moto in a shed on the 2400 block of Barrow Street early Monday morning, according to a press release. Police arrested him just after 4 a.m. without incident and took him to the Anchorage Jail.

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Original story:

A 39-year-old suspect wanted in connection with a fatal assault is being sought after eluding authorities in a pursuit in Muldoon on Friday night, police said.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Kenneth Moto, whom police accuse of beating and badly injuring 36-year-old Daniel Stewart in front of the Panhandle Bar in a late-night fight on April 19. Stewart died of his injuries several days later.

Just after 8 p.m. Friday, police received a tip that Moto had been spotted in a tan Ford Explorer in the area of DeBarr Road, police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said in an email.

Officers located the car around 8:15 p.m. and identified Moto as the driver, Castro said. A pursuit began when the Explorer headed north down Patterson Street, left the roadway and eventually stopped at a wooded area north of Creekside Center and East 10th Avenue.

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Moto got out of the car and ran into the wooded area, Castro said.

"Officers conducted a search of the area until about midnight." Castro wrote. The team included a K-9 officer but Moto eluded them, Castro wrote in the email.

Police are asking residents in the Muldoon area to be on the lookout for Moto. Castro said anyone who spots him is asked to immediately call police at 911.

Reach Devin Kelly at dkelly@adn.com or 257-4314.

By DEVIN KELLY

dkelly@adn.com

Devin Kelly

Devin Kelly was an ADN staff reporter.

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