Crime & Courts

Police: Man assaulted after being asked for cigarette outside Midtown restaurant

A man arrested on assault charges early Monday outside a Midtown Anchorage restaurant asked another man for a cigarette before attacking him and trying to take his truck, according to police.

Court records show Wasilla resident Eti Junior Falaniko, 18, charged with first-degree counts of assault, robbery and attempted vehicle theft in the incident.

Police spokesman Renee Oistad said Wednesday that the incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Monday, in the parking lot of the Denny's restaurant at Benson Boulevard and Denali Street. Falaniko did not know the victim, who was sitting inside an idling vehicle when Falaniko walked up, Oistad said.

"After the victim ignored Falaniko's request for a cigarette, Falaniko pulled the victim from his truck and they began a physical fight," Oistad wrote in an email. "When the victim fell to the ground, Falaniko kicked the victim in the head and then got into the victim's vehicle with the intent to steal it."

Falaniko walked away from the truck, Oistad said, when he discovered the keys weren't in the ignition. Officers responding to a report of the fight found him in a parking lot just west of the Denny's, where he was arrested without incident.

The victim was taken to an Anchorage hospital and is expected to survive his injuries, according to Oistad.

[ Anchorage man stabbed after request for cigarette, charges say ]

Falaniko was taken to the Anchorage Correctional Complex and arraigned Monday, when his bail was set at $10,000 with a court-approved third-party custodian required for his release. He remained in custody there Wednesday afternoon.

Chris Klint

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

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