Girdwood man wanted on child sex abuse charges is arrested in California

A Girdwood man wanted on charges of sexually abusing a minor in 2016 was arrested this week in California, authorities said.

David K. Swendiman, 54, was taken into custody without incident Thursday in Truckee, California, by a highway patrol sergeant and a fugitive apprehension team member with California’s corrections department, the California Highway Patrol said in a statement.

Law enforcement officials learned that Swendiman had traveled from Alaska to Truckee and coordinated a canvass of the area involving multiple agencies, including Truckee police. He was booked at the Nevada County Jail in Nevada City, California, according to the highway patrol.

Anchorage police in November started investigating accusations that Swendiman in 2016 sexually assaulted a minor he knew, the department said earlier this week. He was “active in the Girdwood community, which oftentimes led to him leading youth group activities,” according to the Anchorage Police Department, and police think there may be more victims.

A warrant for his arrest was issued April 15 for two felony counts each of first- and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, police said. Anchorage police on Friday posted an alert that said Swendiman was taken into custody in California, adding, “No further details are available at this time.”

Police this week asked anyone who may have been victimized by Swendiman to contact Detective Christopher Thomas at christopher.thomas@anchorageak.gov or 907-786-2628.