The Alaska State Troopers were called to the Tesoro gas station on the Seward Meridian Highway and Palmer Wasilla Highway Wednesday night at 8:26 pm.

The call that came in was to report a stolen vehicle that was at the station.

The victims reported to the troopers that a man got into a vehicle at the station androve away. There were two juveniles in the vehicle when it was taken.

The vehicle only went a short distance however before being stopped by the children’s mother. The suspect exited the vehicle and ran down the road.

About a half an hour later, the same man returned to the station and stole another vehicle. This time, he stole a 2006 Chevy Silverado that was left unattended at the station, and drove from the scene.

Wasilla Police and the state troopers began looking for the stolen vehicle. At 10:20 pm, the Alaska State Troopers, with the assistance of Wasilla police, located and recovered the stolen Silverado.

They also located the suspect, who was identified as 26-year-old Wasilla resident Ronnie (Chad) Coker.

Coker was arrested, charged with Vehicle Theft I x2, Child Endangerment x2, and DUI, and transported to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility where he was held on $5,000 bail.