Kenai fugitive nabbed on Knik-Goose Bay Road

WASILLA — A fugitive who sparked a manhunt along Kenai highways was located Wednesday in the Valley and arrested, authorities said.

Marshals with the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force found Andre Tanner, 32, of Anchorage, in the passenger side of a parked car near the intersection of Knik-Goose Bay Road and Fairview Loop with an injured wrist, and administered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, about 10:45 a.m., according to Alaska State Troopers media dispatches. The task force is a joint operation of the US Marshals and the Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers arrested Tanner and transported him to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, then turned him over to corrections officials at Mat-Su Pretrial detention center, where he remained Wednesday afternoon. Tanner was arrested on a violation of parole for first-degree forgery, second-degree theft, and fourth-degree drug misconduct, as well as a warrant for reckless driving and failure to stop for law enforcement, according to the dispatches

The driver of the vehicle, Melissa Bradley, 35, of Anchorage, was also arrested and charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, troopers said.

Tanner was first contacted by Alaska Wildlife Troopers near the Centennial Lake parking lot in Soldotna about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28, according to Alaska State Troopers media dispatches. Wildlife troopers were in the area checking on resource users, according to the dispatch.

Tanner appeared to be driving a Honda Civic under the influence, according to the release. Tanner first provided a false name, then left the parking lot and fled down Tustumena Lake Road — a two-lane residential road — at speeds greater than 80 mph, according to the dispatch. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but was forced to break off pursuit because of excessive speed, according to the dispatch.

Alaska State Troopers spotted Tanner traveling through Kasilof northbound on the Sterling Highway, where Tanner passed multiple vehicles on his way through Soldotna, according to the dispatches.

About 20 minutes after that, Alaska State Park Rangers spotted Tanner on the Sterling at about mile marker 62. Troopers re-started the pursuit at about mile 60 of the Seward Highway, but lost sight of Tanner and broke off pursuit a third time.

Troopers spotted Tanner again at about mile 49 of the Seward Highway, and deployed a spike strip, which disabled Tanner’s car, according to the dispatches.

Tanner then fled on foot into woods near the northbound section of the highway, sparking a search by troopers, park rangers, and officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service, according to dispatches.

A quick estimate using Google Maps puts the length of Tanner’s run at about 90 miles. The mile marker at which he gave up his disabled vehicle is in the Portage area.

The search for him after he absconded on foot involved officers on foot, a state trooper K-9 unit, and an Alaska State Trooper helicopter.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.