Crime & Courts

Anchorage police seek suspect in theft of car containing 3-year-old

Anchorage police are asking for public assistance in tracking down a man identified in three separate car thefts in the city, including one with a 3-year-old girl inside on New Year's Day.

Bruce Allen King, 37, is wanted on a $20,000 felony arrest warrant for robbery, two counts of vehicle theft and two counts of third degree assault. He also has a separate $7,500 felony arrest warrant for one count of vehicle theft and one count of reckless endangerment related to the Jan. 1 incident.

The vehicle in which the girl was secured, a silver 2012 Nissan Sentra, was left running and taken from the 200 block of McCarrey Street at about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 1.

Soon afterward, police said the Sentra and the girl — still unharmed and strapped into her car seat — were found behind a Brown Jug liquor store on Bragaw Street.

King was then spotted Monday inside a 2003 blue Dodge Dakota that was reported stolen the day before from the 1000 block of Boniface Drive, police said.

When police approached the vehicle Monday afternoon outside a trailer on the 1500 block of Hoyt Street, a woman in the vehicle complied with police commands while the male driver, later identified by police as King, attempted to flee.

During his attempt to evade police, the Dodge Dakota got stuck in the snow and the suspect ran from the vehicle.

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As officers were looking for the suspect in the area, a man checking his mail approached officers. As the man who owned the vehicle approached police, a man identified by police as King jumped into the running 2006 Chevy Trailblazer and attempted to drive away.

The man tried to chase down his vehicle, grabbing the open driver's door. The suspect hit the owner of the car several times and accelerated when the owner let go of the door. According to police, the driver did not suffer any serious injuries.

Police spokeswoman Renee Oistad said the Chevy Trailblazer was still missing as of Tuesday afternoon.

[Car recovered after being stolen with 3-year-old girl inside; child 'unharmed']

She declined to say Tuesday what information had led to King being identified as a suspect in the New Year's Day car theft. She didn't have word on any parts of town King might frequent.

Anyone who sees King — who is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and has brown eyes and red hair — should contact either police dispatchers at 907-786-8900, or Anchorage Crime Stoppers at 907-561-STOP or its website.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

Suzanna Caldwell

Suzanna Caldwell is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in 2017.

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