APD: Pizza parlor robbery suspect caught trying to steal car

A man who tried to rob a Spenard pizza restaurant Sunday and fired shots at civilian pursuers was arrested Wednesday when he tried to steal a car, police said.

A man came into the Milano's Pizzeria before noon Sunday and tried to rob the register but was turned back by the owner and employees who chased him outside. He fired at least five shots in their direction, the restaurant owner said.

John A. Wolf Jr. was arrested on robbery and other charges Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Officers in the area of West 88th Avenue and Cordell Circle discovered him trying to steal a red Lincoln Town Car using a large knife, according to an Anchorage Police Department update Thursday morning.

Wolf refused to obey officers' commands and struggled when they tried to handcuff him, police said. They took him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.

Wolf refused to give his name and was identified by his fingerprint, police said.

Detectives who questioned Wolf before he was taken to Anchorage jail found enough probable cause to charge him with the Milano's robbery, according to the update.

He was developed as a suspect through the course of the investigation, police spokeswoman Renee Oistad said in an email.

"We are not going to disclose the evidence at this time as the case is still open and has not yet been adjudicated through the court system," Oistad wrote.

Wolf, who had a failure-to-appear warrant on a charge of operating under the influence, was charged with first-degree vehicle theft, resisting arrest and criminal mischief for the car theft, police said.

For the robbery, he was also charged with third-degree misconduct involving a weapon (felon in possession), four counts of third-degree assault, three counts of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and evidence tampering, police said.

Wolf was scheduled for an arraignment hearing Thursday.