Police: Woman takes dollars, doughnuts in armed Golden Donuts robbery

Anchorage police say an armed woman wanting something more than a sweet treat robbed a Midtown doughnut shop early Friday morning, but she was arrested about an hour later.

Anchorage Police Department spokesperson Jennifer Castro said in a statement Melissa Noel, 35, was charged with two counts each of theft, providing false information and misconduct involving weapons in the robbery of Golden Donuts at the corner of Lake Otis Parkway and Tudor Road. She also faces single counts of robbery and assault.

Castro said Friday initial reports of the robbery came in at 12:07 a.m.

"It was reported that a female had entered the business," Castro said. "She was brandishing a gun and demanding cash."

A barista at Golden Donuts Friday morning, Toni Chase, said the male cashier on duty was unhurt during the encounter.

Castro said responding officers reviewed surveillance video from the store, which led to police finding Noel during a 1 a.m. traffic stop on a vehicle that had run a red light at Tudor Road and C Street.

"During the stop, police made contact with a female passenger in the vehicle who matched the description of the robbery suspect," Castro wrote in a statement on the case. "The passenger was identified as (Noel)."

Police also found controlled substances, as well as a box of Golden Donuts, in the vehicle, Castro said. Noel was taken to police headquarters on Elmore Road, less than a mile east of Golden Donuts, for questioning; after her arrest, she was held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex.