Alaska State Troopers launched a massive search Saturday for a 32-year-old man who they say led authorities on a pursuit on the Seward and Sterling highways before escaping into the woods.
The man, identified as Andre Morris Tanner, was described as a "dangerous offender" in a "Wanted Adults" bulletin posted by troopers Saturday evening.
"His direction of travel is unknown but he is believed to be living in the Girdwood area," the bulletin stated. Earlier Saturday, troopers asked drivers not to pick up hitchhikers on the Seward Highway, especially in the area of Milepost 52.
Troopers sent a helicopter and K-9 unit to the scene, and state park rangers and officers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service also joined the search for Tanner. But as of about 8 p.m. Saturday, Tanner had not been found, troopers wrote in a dispatch.
The episode began to unfold at 10:52 a.m. near Kasilof when, troopers say, Tanner failed to yield to a traffic stop. Troopers later found that Tanner was wanted on a felony arrest warrant, according to the dispatch posted Saturday night. Further details on the nature of the felony charge were not immediately released.
Tanner was driving a silver Honda Civic, and "appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs," the dispatch said. Troopers said Tanner gave a fake name to the arresting officer.
Tanner then accelerated out of the parking lot and onto Tustumena Lake Road, a two-lane road in a residential area, the dispatch said. Troopers said the car was going more than 80 mph, and "recklessly passed multiple vehicles through and north of Soldotna." The troopers gave chase as the car headed north but backed off the pursuit numerous times for safety reasons, according to the dispatch.
Around Mile 52 of the Seward Highway, troopers deployed spike strips and successfully deflated the tires of Tanner's car, troopers wrote in the dispatch. Tanner then fled into the woods on the northbound side of the road, about 15 miles north of the junction with the Sterling Highway, troopers said.
Tanner was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 155 pounds and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes.
Troopers were asking anyone with information to call 907-262-4453 and reference incident number AK15014625, or call the Anchorage Crime Stoppers at 907-561-7867.