Fugitive found hiding in closet

PALMER — It took more than two months, but Kelly Turney finally made his collar.

The Palmer Police Department detective sergeant was noticeably upbeat Wednesday, receiving congratulations and mild ribbings from his law enforcement colleagues.

“The search is over,” he said.

Angie Minnick, 30, was arrested on warrants for shoplifting, theft and fraud. On Nov. 1, police arrested her boyfriend, Ryan Burkhart, 25, Anchorage, on a warrant for allegedly robbing a 13-year-old of his four-wheeler in August 2007.

Turney started searching for the pair back in September. Anchorage and Mat-Su Crime Stoppers organizations had stepped up with reward money, but somehow Minnick remained at large.

Turney has had almost too many near-misses to count. Minnick would either not show up for scheduled appointments with him or would be a step ahead of whatever information his tipsters provided.

But Wednesday, Turney said, a tip finally panned out. Anchorage called to ask if he had any information. He did. Combined with police database searches, officials were able to track Minnick down in the Birchwood area. It was a place they’d been to before without any luck.

“They found her hiding inside a closet in one of the trailers there,” he said. “She was brought out here and then I (jailed) her here in Palmer.”

Turney said he suspects Minnick has been forging stolen checks between Anchorage and the Valley. The scheme seemed to be to write checks for Visa check cards that Minnick used as income.

It wouldn’t be the first time. Minnick was sentenced in 2006 to a year in prison after admitting to being the culprit behind a string of bogus checks passed throughout the Valley. Turney said she would put genuine routing numbers on checks that led to fake accounts. The checks would bounce only after they made it to the bank.

Turney said Burkhart seems to have gotten in on the game as well. After his arrest, Burkhart was charged with one count each of theft, fraud and criminal impersonation for a check written at Palmer Carrs for $200 in Visa gift cards and a Coke.

Turney said the search has at times included Wasilla Police and the Alaska State Troopers.

“I’ve sent them on several reports that she might be here or there,” Turney said.

He’s also been working closely with Anchorage detectives and says he expects charges will be filed there as well. Credit for the collar goes to them.

“APD came through for me big time today,” he said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.