Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage police charged a man with assault and kidnapping today after he allegedly dragged his girlfriend down a South Anchorage street last night, threatened her with a gun, choked her and beat her with his fists, a belt and a vacuum cleaner hose.

Police arrested Matthew Wheeler, 21, at 2 a.m. after he returned to the apartment where the incident began, in the 1800 block of Elcadore Drive.

Police said neighbors called after seeing a man dragging a woman into the apartment at about 11 p.m. By the time police arrived, Wheeler was gone.

The victim told police Wheeler held her against her will during the night. She said she tried to escape the apartment shortly before police arrived, but Wheeler pointed a rifle at her, threatening her life.

Police said they began a citywide search for Wheeler's vehicle. When Wheeler returned to the apartment, police arrested him and charged him with second- and third-degree assault and kidnapping.

Wheeler is being held at the Anchorage Jail on $100,000 bail and will be arraigned this afternoon, police said.

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