Unsecured Minor in a Speeding Vehicle and Attempted Auto Theft at a Local Preschool

Editor’s Disclaimer: Information received from the Anchorage Police Department CAD Log of Reports Taken for the Chugiak-Eagle River area as recorded online at the Community Crime Map via Renee Oistad of the APD Communications Department and transcribed by Amy Armstrong. All persons are assumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Sun., April 2

4:05 a.m.

Christopher J. Thies, age 28 of Eagle River, was arrested for alleged operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence at the intersection of Business Blvd and Regency Drive in Eagle River. The vehicle Thies was driving was stopped by an APD officer because a tail light was out on the vehicle. The officer was in the Homestead Lounge parking lot when he was contacted by several people whom pointed out a car leaving the parking lot being driven by what the people believed to be an intoxicated driver. When the vehicle Thies was driving was pulled over, Thies informed police that he had a gun in the car. Thies was also charged with alleged Drunk in Possession of a firearm.

Mon., April 3

1:01 a.m.

Alvin W. Sexton, age 38 of Chugiak, was arrested for alleged assault and disorderly conduct in the 21600 block of Bear View Place in Chugiak. APD responded to a residence in that block after someone called APD dispatch. Before the caller from the residence hung up the phone, the police dispatch call taker could hear while listening to the caller what sounded to be a disturbance. Police responded to the address from which the call originated to discover that Sexton was allegedly intoxicated and allegedly threatening physical harm to his girlfriend’s son.

4:03 p.m.

Jon Reisner, age 30 of Palmer, was taken into custody by security personnel at the Carrs Quality Center grocery store in the 11400 block of Business Blvd in Eagle River after Reisner allegedly attempted to leave the store with a cart full of groceries that he had not paid for. Reisner was charged with attempted shoplifting by APD and was jailed also on an existing unrelated warrant.

9:00 p.m.

In a case of miscommunication between a husband and a wife, police responded to the report of a vehicle parked in the 18800 block of Upper Skyline Drive as being stolen. The husband made the report but was unaware that the wife had moved the vehicle. The vehicle was not stolen.

10:40 p.m.

John A. Pierce, age 28 of Anchorage, was taken into police custody in the 11800 block of the Old Glenn Highway in Eagle River for an outstanding warrant and was also charged with alleged resisting arrest and alleged eluding. According to police records, an APD officer at the Chevron fuel station located in Eagle River received information from the station attendant regarding a customer showing signs of intoxication. An APD officer approached the suspect’s vehicle to knock on the window. According to the police reports, the customer (suspect) drove away without acknowledging the police presence. Two APD patrol officers spotted the vehicle at the east end of Hanson Drive, according to police records. The suspect – the driver – had fled the scene leaving behind the vehicle and a passenger. Police records indicate Pierce was then found hiding under a car on Easy Street and taken into custody without further incident. Police records indicate the responding patrol officers did not see any signs of Pierce being impaired to drive.

Tues., April 4

2:20 p.m.

Forrest A. Miles, III, age 32 of Wasilla, was arrested in the 17000 block of the N. Eagle River Road for an outstanding warrant and for alleged attempted vehicle theft in the 12000 block of the Old Glenn Highway in Eagle River. Police contacted Miles after a woman stated that her vehicle was turned off and locked in the parking lot of Joan’s Preschool while she was inside picking up her children from daycare. She told police that when she left the building and was approximately 50 feet from her car, she hit the unlock button on her remote. According to the woman, Miles then jumped in her car and acted as if he was “trying to mess” with the steering wheel and dashboard. The woman yelled at Miles who got out of her car. The woman chased Miles to the nearby Walgreen’s parking lot where she stopped her pursuit of him but did watch him walk across the street to the Boondock’s Sporting Goods store. She witnessed him enter the store. Police made contact with Miles at Boondocks.

10:06 p.m.

An arrest warrant for James Anthony King, age 42 of Chugiak, was issued charging him with assault IV, two counts of assault III and reckless endangerment related to an incident that cumulated in the 21300 block of the Old Glenn Highway in Chugiak. According to police reports, the following allegedly occurred between King and an unidentified ex-girlfriend:

He was driving his vehicle – a truck – with his unidentified ex-girlfriend in the passenger seat when he accused her of being in a relationship with another person.
King became angry and grabbed his ex-girlfriend by the back of her hair and began punching her repeatedly in the head.
King grabbed a knife and threatened her with the knife.
King pinned her head to the passenger side of the vehicle and kept her head in that position as he continued to drive.
King drove the vehicle into a parking lot on the Old Glenn Highway and stopped the vehicle.
King became distracted from holding her head in place when an unidentified person approached the vehicle.
During the distraction, King’s ex-girlfriend jumped from the vehicle.
During her escape, King accelerated the truck causing the door jamb to strike her.
The ex-girlfriend fell to the ground and King allegedly attempted to run her over with the vehicle.
The ex-girlfriend was able to jump out of the way of the truck coming at her and ran to a nearby apartment building to seek safe shelter.
King allegedly drove away from the scene.

As of press time, police have been unable to locate King, but continue to seek his whereabouts. The ex-girlfriend was taken to a local hospital for evaluation of injuries and for possible treatment of such. APD considers King dangerous and requests any sightings of King be reported to APD dispatch.

Wed., April 5

10:31 a.m.

An employee of the Eagle River Wal-Mart store located in the 18600 block of the Eagle River Road turned drugs found in the store over to police custody. According to police reports, the drugs appear to be crystal meth.

9:14 p.m.

Shawn Bannister, age 39 of Anchorage, was arrested in the 16000 block of the S Birchwood Loop Road for alleged operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence and reckless endangerment. An APD patrol officer traveling inbound on the Glenn Highway between the Birchwood exits when he observed a Ford Taurus vehicle approaching his vehicle from behind at a speed well above 100 miles per hour. The officer used radar to confirm the vehicle’s speed was 111 mph in a posted 65 mph zone. The Taurus slowed once it passed the patrol officer’s vehicle. The officer initiated a traffic stop. When the officer engaged Bannister in regard to the excessive speed, the officer noticed an unsecured nine-year-old child in the back seat of the Taurus. The child was unharmed and was picked up on scene by a relative. APD officers were also alerted to Bannister’s driving behavior by a citizen witness who flagged police down to report the driving behavior Bannister was engaged in. The witness told police that while he was driving inbound on the Glenn Highway in the middle lane, a truck was in the process of passing on the left when the Taurus driven by Bannister came up quickly behind both and then cut between the vehicle driven by the witness and the truck. The witness said he saw Bannister throw an object out of his vehicle which struck the windshield of the car being driven by the witness. The impact caused a chip in the windshield, the witness said according to the police report. Bannister was also given a citation for speeding and for alleged failure to properly secure a child. An APD Nixle report was issued regarding this case. It can be viewed online at //local.nixle.com/alert/5894150.

Editor’s Note: Motorists are encouraged to contact police at 786-8900 and file REDDI reports (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately) when they observe inappropriate driving behavior. Learn more about crime trends in your community online at https://communitycrimemap.com. Follow the prompts in the left column to enter specific dates and crime events.