The Juneau Police Department is appealing to the public for help in finding a suspected thief after he allegedly fled from an officer Saturday.
Geoffrey Alter, 44, has a $5,000 warrant for his arrest because he failed to appear in court March 10.
At about 2 a.m. Saturday, an officer spotted Alter driving on Fritz Cove Road and tried to pull him over, according to a post on the JPD Facebook page. Alter reportedly began driving on the wrong side of the road to elude the officer, who did not pursue him due to the potential danger to oncoming motorists.
The vehicle Alter was driving was later found and impounded.
“He is still at large at this point in time,” said Juneau Police Department Lt. David Campbell Thursday afternoon.
JPD is asking for the public’s assistance in finding Alter, who has been associated with a trailer in the Sprucewood park and the following vehicles: a 1995 gray Mercury four-door, a 2007 red Dodge Caliber hatchback and a 2003 gray Dodge Neon.
“Whenever someone flees, that’s a big concern because it causes a threat to citizens,” Campbell said. “Fleeing from the police, that’s a crime in itself.”
Alter’s warrant stems from a grand jury indictment on a charge of second-degree theft for allegedly receiving stolen property from a June 3, 2016 burglary.
Alter also is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3 for his part in a brutal home invasion robbery in February of last year, when a man reportedly was held at gunpoint and assaulted with a baseball bat. Alter pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief for his part in the robbery. Co-defendants Devin Clements and Anthony Kalk also have taken plea agreements, while alleged ringleader Joshua Lehauli is set for trial June 12.
• Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.
