Anchorage police release photos of man suspected in pepper spray attack

Anchorage police on Tuesday released photos of a man suspected of pepper spraying a group of people over the weekend.

On its Facebook page, the police department asked for help identifying the suspect, who is described as a white man, 50 to 60 years old, with a long, white beard and stocky build. He was also described as wearing a black leather vest.

The man pepper-sprayed a group of people Saturday, police said. The group was gathered at the Anchorage Community House — a space co-located with the Church of Love on Spenard Road — for a training session on nonviolent protests.

[An activist group says it was holding a nonviolence training in Spenard when an intruder entered with pepper spray]

The man entered the room of about a dozen people, sprayed them, and then left, the Anchorage Daily News reported Saturday.

"All of the victims suffered varying degrees of discomfort and pain; medics responded and treated them for exposure," police said in Tuesday's Facebook post.

Police are asking people who recognize the man to call the non-emergency line at 311. To remain anonymous, people can contact Crime Stoppers at 907-561-STOP or go online at anchoragecrimestoppers.com.