K9 ‘Kenai’ Assists in Capture of Burglary/Car Theft Suspect in Chugiak

K9 "Kenai" and his handler, APD K9 Officer Scott Huston. Image-APD
K9 “Kenai” and his handler, APD K9 Officer Scott Huston. Image-APD

Anchorage Police report that with the assistance of K9 “Kenai,” they were able to locate and arrest a suspected car thief in the Chugiak area on Tuesday.

It was at just before 10:30 am on Tuesday that an off-duty officer saw a driver that was showing signs of impairment near Amonson Road and Robin Drive. That officer attempted to stop and contact the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 31-year-old Hank Kochendorfer, but the driver fled from the vehicle on foot.

Soon after, even though the plates on the stopped vehicle appeared to have been changed, it was identified as stolen.

Additional police units responded to the scene, including a unit with K9 “Kenai.” Police were able to track the suspect, and shoe prints would lead them to an unoccupied house on the 18000 block of Amonson Drive. “K9 Kenai showed officers to a plywood hinged door that led to a crawl space. Both sides of the plywood appeared to be unlocked with a fresh snow track underneath the porch,” the police said in a statement. The report went on to say that “Officers made commands, including Kenai with some suggestive barks,” the suspect then came out from under insulation where he was hiding and gave himself up to officers.

Kochendorf has been charged with Vehicle Theft I. Further investigation would find that he had an outstanding warrant for Felony Burglary I. He was remanded to the Anchorage Jail with his bail set at $7,000.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]