State Troopers continue to follow tips on the whereabouts of 32-year-old Andre Tanner.
Capt. Greentstreet: “Given his assaultive criminal history causes us concern for the public safety.”
Soldotna Trooper Captain Andy Greenstreet said they’re not actively searching but are responding to new information coming in.
Tanner was last seen by officers on Saturday near mile 52 of the Seward Highway.
Capt. Greenstreet: “Well any information the public can provide is going to be beneficial to law enforcement. We’re not sure that Andre Tanner is still in the area of 52 mile of the Seward Highway or if he had actually gotten a ride out of there or not. There were some sightings later that night that we followed up on, but we were unable to make contact with him.”
Tanner was first contacted by an Alaska Wildlife Trooper on Saturday, as the officer was checking users at Kasilof’s Centennial Lake area.
According to Trooper reports, Tanner appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and gave the officer a false name, then left the parking lot in his silver Honda Civic at a high rate of speed and proceeded through the Tustumena area at a speed of about 80 miles per hour.
While multiple Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on his vehicle, Tanner eluded them at high rates of speed, continuing north from Soldotna towards Anchorage on the Sterling Highway.
After losing sight of the vehicle, Troopers re-initiated the pursuit around mile 42 of the Seward Highway(15 miles north of the Anchorage turn off) and ended the pursuit for public safety by using a spike strip.
Tanner then fled on foot into the woods around mile 52 of the Seward Highway.
Additional State Troopers, Park Rangers, and law enforcement officers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Forest Service responded.
Officers, a State Trooper K-9, and the AST Helo 3 helicopter conducted an extensive search in the woods of the area but Tanner was not found.
The Troopers advised the public not to pick up hitch-hikers in the area of mile 52 of the Seward Highway.
Tanner is described as a white male who was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Anyone who sees someone matching the description, or has information on Tanner’s whereabouts should call State Troopers at 262-4453.
