Anchorage police say they arrested a man who escaped from the Anchorage Correctional Complex on Friday morning after he attempted to push a woman into her car at a local car wash.
Around 8:20 a.m., police received a report that 28-year-old Kevin Tuckfield fled from the downtown jail's mental health unit on foot, according to a statement from Jennifer Castro, Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman.
Police searched the area for Tuckfield and notified people nearby about his escape, Castro said. APD sent out an alert around 9:15 a.m. asking for the public's help finding Tuckfield.
Shortly before 11:40 a.m., a woman was vacuuming her car at a South Anchorage car wash on Lake Otis Parkway when a man approached her. He implied he had a gun and began pushing her into the vehicle, Castro said.
"The female fought back and screamed as loud as she could to draw attention to herself," Castro said. "Her and the suspect got into a scuffle and the female was able to flee from the vehicle; the suspect took off on foot."
Meanwhile, a 39-year-old man heard the woman screaming and ran over to help. He called police. A 16-year-old boy in a white truck also heard her screams and followed the suspect, helping police find him minutes later, Castro said.
Police identified the suspect as Tuckfield. He was arrested and charged with assault, escape, kidnapping and robbery.