Anchorage Daily News

Lake Hood and Turnagain elementary schools in West Anchorage were under brief lockdowns Wednesday afternoon because of a nearby police chase.

The lockdowns were lifted by 2:30 p.m. after police arrested a man on multiple felony charges, including car theft and assaulting a police officer.

A "lockdown" is when all inside and outside doors and windows to the school building are closed and locked. No one is allowed to leave or enter; students and staff take cover away from windows and doors.

Anchorage police say that at about 2 p.m. an officer spotted a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the Chelsea Inn on Spenard Road. He saw four people get into the stolen Toyota Tacoma.

In his and another officer's efforts to arrest the driver, a police chase ensued. Two decorative street-light poles were knocked down and the Toyota accelerated up to 100 mph running from police.

After the car was abandoned at a concrete barrier in the Turnagain neighborhood, the driver fled on foot into nearby woods.

Police arrested Frank Thornton, 37, at about 2:20 p.m. He was taken to the Anchorage Jail with bail set at $100,000. His other charges include assault, eluding, resisting arrest and driving without a license.

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