Two businesses just feet from an Alaska State Trooper post in Girdwood were burglarized overnight Saturday, and troopers responding to the call were diverted to a vehicle rollover along the Seward Highway -- a vehicle in which they said they found an item stolen from one of the businesses.
Connie Cooley, owner of the Great Alaskan Tourist Trap, said she got a call early Sunday reporting the damage to her shop, as well as nearby Coast Pizzeria. The two businesses bracket the trooper post in the building, which houses several other businesses and a Tesoro gas station that's a popular pit stop on the Seward Highway.
"Somebody threw a big, good-sized rock through the glass door, made a big glassy mess, took a few things -- randomly, nothing made any sense -- and left," Cooley said.
The Girdwood Mercantile was also broken into, troopers reported.
In a dispatch late Sunday, Alaska State Troopers said they were responding to the reported burglaries when they were diverted to a single-vehicle crash in Indian around 4:30 a.m.
"Investigation into the vehicle crash revealed the vehicle, a black 2003 GMC Sierra pickup, was traveling northbound. The vehicle crossed left of center, traveled through the guardrail and rolled over several times and ended up on the rail road track," the dispatch says.
Good Samaritans and the Anchorage Fire Department assisted the injured driver, whose wounds were not life-threatening, troopers said. The driver, who was not identified by troopers, was taken to the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage for treatment.
An item taken in one of the burglaries was found in the vehicle involved in the crash, troopers said, and a suspect had been identified.
Charges of a minor consuming alcohol, two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree theft and three counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief "are anticipated to be forwarded to the District Attorney," troopers wrote. More charges could arise as authorities' investigation continues.
The Tourist Trap remained open Sunday, Cooley said, with troopers visiting to investigate. She said her greatest cost would be replacing the door, with the stolen items limited to "a little bit of jewelry, a hoodie and a glass fish."
"I'm spring cleaning because you can't pick up the glass; you've gotta dust at the same time," Cooley said, laughing.
Troopers announced last year that the Girdwood post will close this June due to state budget cuts, with locals looking into whether Anchorage or Whittier police might pick up the slack.