Crime & Courts

Police: Kidnapping investigation leads to cache of stolen goods

A 19-year-old man was forced into a vehicle at knifepoint in broad daylight in downtown Anchorage last week, and then tied up and driven to his Eagle River home where his alleged assailants nabbed valuables, according to an Anchorage Police detective's affidavit.

Anchorage police recovered hundreds of items of stolen property worth more than $100,000 as a result of the subsequent investigation.

Four suspects have been arrested, and officers are seeking another man believed to be involved in a laundry list of alleged crimes, according to the Anchorage Police Department.

Dela White, 18, is suspected of planning and coordinating the kidnapping as well as the subsequent robbery of the victim's Eagle River home. She has been charged with kidnapping.

Christopher Goenett, 28, has been charged with kidnapping, assault and robbery.

Tyrun Reynolds, 28, and Danerin Curtindale, 34, both face charges of assault, kidnapping, robbery and burglary.

The 19-year-old victim in the case called police on Nov. 1 and reported being forcefully snatched up and driven around Anchorage through the day until the suspects had what they wanted.

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Here's how Anchorage investigators and charging documents say the alleged crimes played out:

White invited the victim to meet downtown at the Delaney Park Strip for coffee. The two were acquainted, APD Detective James Estes wrote in charging documents.

At about 11: 30 a.m. they were walking around the Park Strip near 10th Avenue when Goenett approached the victim. Goenett held a knife to the victim's stomach and forced him into a vehicle, according to the charges.

The victim told police the men took his keys, cellphone and wallet, and then they drove him to an ATM and withdrew $380 from his account.

The ordeal was not yet over as the teenager was returned to his car, then duct-taped and handcuffed. Reynolds and Curtindale drove him, in the stolen car, to his Eagle River home, the victim told police.

After burglarizing the residence, the men drove back to Anchorage and dumped the victim near C Street and Dowling Road. The victim flagged down a bicyclist for help and contacted police just before 4 p.m., according to the charges.

During the investigation, police searched a home on 12th Avenue, not far from the Park Strip, where over 500 stolen items valued at more than $100,000 were recovered.

"Some of the items were taken from the Eagle River residence but most were stolen in unrelated thefts, burglaries, and robberies," according to APD. "It appeared that many of the items were likely stolen from vehicles and during the vehicle break-ins, the suspects would steal the garage door opener as well as the vehicle registration to later burglarize the home."

Property detectives are combing through the trove of stolen property. So far, police identified 10 owners and more are expected to be identified, they said.

[Read more: Thieves steal expensive wines, coin collection from home of Anchorage businessman]

At the same time, the police department continues to seek a fifth potential suspect. But it is opting not to release identifiers or detail his alleged involvement in the kidnapping.

This is the second reported instance of kidnapping and theft to hit Anchorage in two weeks. A 34-year-old man and at least once accomplice stand accused of beating and kidnapping two brothers, who were shot and left for dead in Hatcher Pass in the Mat-Su area.

Police reminded residents to write down the serial numbers on property they own, and immediately report to police if anything is stolen.

Jerzy Shedlock

Jerzy Shedlock is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2017.

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