At 2:35 AM on July 10, 2023, Anchorage Police responded to Air Gas USA at 6415 Arctic Boulevard reference an alarm.  Upon arrival officers discovered entry into the building had been made via a front door that had been forced open.  Equipment that had been inside the business was found lying outside.  Through the investigation it was determined that 56-year-old Daniel R. Leithead, 63-year-old Ronald D. Sutherland (the driver), and a third male arrived at the business in a box truck.  All three entered the business and all three exited with items they had stolen from inside.   Sutherland and the third person left in the truck.  Leithead left the area on foot.

Officers determined the box truck had been stolen from a nearby business on the 500-block of W 64th Avenue.   While at that business on 64th, an officer saw Leithead walking down the street; Leithead matched the description of one of the suspects.  Officers contacted Leithead and subsequently confirmed he had been involved in the burglary.  Leithead was detained and transported to the Anchorage Police Department for questioning by detectives.

Police found the stolen box truck which had been left abandoned near 72nd Avenue and Stella Place.  There was damage to the passenger side door and to the ignition. Further investigation revealed the box truck had been driven into a trailer park located on the 7100-block of Lake Otis prior to being abandoned.  Officers went to the trailer park; while there they saw a male who matched the description of the driver involved in the burglary.  Upon seeing the officers, the male ran.  Officers gave chase and quickly caught up to the suspect, later identified as Ronald Sutherland.  Sutherland was detained without further incident; he was transported to the Anchorage Police Department for questioning by detectives.

When police originally saw Sutherland in the trailer park, Sutherland was standing next to a green Ford van.  Officers looked through the windows of the van and saw items that had been stolen from Air Gas.  The Ford was impounded for evidence.  It will be searched once a search warrant has been secured.

Daniel Leithead and Ronald Sutherland were both remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the charges of Theft II, Criminal Mischief V, Criminal Trespass I, Burglary II, and Vehicle Theft I.  Sutherland was also charged with Violate Conditions of Release.

The third suspect is still outstanding.  Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call APD Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1) or 907-786-8900 (option #0).  To remain anonymous, you may leave a tip online at www.AnchorageCrimeStoppers.com.

APD Case 23-21958 and 23-21960

For information on how to obtain the criminal history of any Alaskan, you may do so online via Court View on the State’s website.