Seward Highway Reopens, Kidnapping Suspect Remains At Large

The Seward Highway has been reopened, though the suspect in an alleged armed kidnapping Friday morning remains at large.

Anchorage Police Department spokesperson Dave Parker says APD and State Troopers have suspended the search for the suspect in the Turnagain Pass area of the Seward Highway, but are continuing to pursue leads in the ongoing investigation.

The suspect was discovered rummaging around in the back yard of the victim’s grandmother’s south Anchorage home, at which point, the suspect allegedly forced the victim into his own pickup truck at gunpoint. According to Parker, the suspect made the victim drive south down the Seward Highway.

“When they reached the Turnagain Pass area, the suspect – who was a white male adult, about 200 pounds, probably in the neighborhood of six feet, with a shaved head and a black and red tattoo on his left shoulder – needed to answer nature’s call, so he had the victim stop and the suspect got out of the vehicle to relieve in the woods, taking the key from the ignition,” Parker said.

But, Parker says the victim had a spare key hidden in the car, and was able to drive away while the suspect was out of the vehicle…the victim then alerted authorities soon after.

“He actually texted family and then we were able to make phone contact with him when he got into phone range,” Parker said.

Parker says that APD was assisted by State Troopers, helicopters, and canine units in the search.

It is believed that the suspect is armed and police are urging motorists to not pick up any hitchhikers in the Turnagain Arm area.

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