A man Anchorage police say is linked to a local property-theft ring who walked away from a local halfway house last week is back in custody, as investigators continue to seek a fellow escapee.
Tagaloa Tanuvasa, 42, turned himself in at the Anchorage Correctional Complex Wednesday night, police said in a brief statement Thursday. The second man who left the Cordova Center in downtown Anchorage on Saturday, 37-year-old Filipo Rhode, is still being sought.
Earlier this week police said Tanuvasa, who was arrested in an April 29 vehicle theft, was linked to a ring associated with a spike of more than 550 vehicles stolen throughout the city this year.
More than 20 people have been arrested as police investigate the ring, involving between 60 and 80 crimes from burglary to assault committed in connection with its activities. Another suspect linked to the ring, 35-year-old David Fatialofa, was arrested in a Police Memorial Day chase Friday after he allegedly fired on an Alaska State Trooper.
Anyone with information on Rhodes' whereabouts is asked to contact either police at 907-786-8900, or Anchorage Crime Stoppers at 907-561-STOP or its website.