Crime & Courts

Police: Man arrested in East Anchorage hit-and-run death

This story has been updated with a new article.

Update: 11 a.m. Sunday: Police said a man has been arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident in an incident Saturday that left another man dead in East Anchorage.

In an online statement posted Sunday, police wrote:

Through the investigative process, detectives were able to determine that 27-year-old Corey S. Hoppe may be the suspect driver. Detectives put out a locate for both Hoppe and his Chevy Suburban to patrol officers.  At approximately 1:00 AM a patrol sergeant saw the Chevy at Elmore and Dowling.  A traffic stop was conducted and Hoppe was taken into custody without incident.  He was transported to APD for questioning.

Initial indications are that Hoppe and the victim were roommates.  They were in the Suburban together when some type of disagreement occurred between the two of them.  After the victim exited the passenger side of the Chevy at the corner of Baxter and Northern Lights, Hoppe made a right hand turn running over the victim in the process.

Hoppe was incarcerated at the Anchorage Jail on the charge of Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident.  This case is still under investigation.

Original story:

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Anchorage police are seeking the public's help finding a driver who apparently ran over a passenger who had exited the vehicle near the intersection of Northern Lights Boulevard and Baxter Road.

The vicim died at the hospital later Saturday, the Anchorage Police Department said in an 11:25 p.m. alert.

Early reports indicated the victim, a man, was initially in the vehicle with the suspect.

"The victim exited the vehicle and then was subsequently run over by the suspect, who then drove away from the scene without rendering aid," police said.

Officers responded shortly before 5 p.m. and found the victim in the crosswalk on the north side of the intersection. He was sent to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

"At this time it is unknown if the victim got out of the vehicle under his own power or if he was forced out," the agency said. "Whether or not the suspect intentionally ran over the victim is still under investigation."

Several people witnessed the event, but descriptions of the driver and vehicle vary substantially, the department said.

Police are asking anyone with information about the case who has not already been interviewed to call Police Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option No. 1). Anonymous tips can be submitted at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.

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