At 2:07 AM on May 30, 2023, a mid-shift officer conducted a traffic stop at Debarr Road and Hoyt Street on a gray Buick with no license plates.  The driver eventually yielded nearby at Camila Court and San Antonio Street.  The officer made initial contact with the Buick’s driver, and then went back to his patrol car to run computer checks.  Once a backup officer arrived, the two officers began to approach the Buick when the driver’s door opened, and the driver stepped out with his hands up.  At the same time the first officer gave the driver instructions to get back into the vehicle, the adult female front seat passenger also exited and ignored the second officer’s commands to get back in the car.  Officers then saw the rear passenger climb into the driver’s seat.  The now-driver locked the car door and drove away in a reckless manner. 

Through the subsequent investigation it was determined that the back-seat passenger had produced a gun, made threats of harm, and ordered the Buick’s original driver and front seat passenger out of the car.  The suspect then climbed into the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle.  Other officers arrived in the area and ultimately located the abandoned Buick in front of a residence on the 4300-block of San Roberto Avenue.  At that time officers were unable to locate the suspect or positively identify him.

At 1:18 AM on June 15th, the same officer who initially conducted the May 30th traffic stop on the Buick, initiated a traffic stop on a Hummer on the 4000-block of San Roberto for an equipment violation.  When the officer contacted the occupants, he immediately recognized the front seat passenger as the person who stole the Buick a few weeks prior.  The passenger initially gave the officer a name, date of birth, and social security number that were not his own.  After a backup officer arrived, the passenger was informed he was under arrest.  The passenger exited the Hummer and physically resisted the officer.

Both officers took hold of the passenger and escorted him to one of the patrol vehicles.  During the struggle, the passenger reached for his waistband while announcing he had a gun. After the officers gave the passenger additional commands, the passenger then retracted his statement about being armed but he continued to fight the officers. One of the officers deployed pepper spray.  The passenger unsuccessfully tried to remove one of the officers’ guns from its holster.  Officers gained control of the passenger’s arms and placed him into handcuffs. 

The passenger would not give his real name but was ultimately identified as 31-year-old David A. Oberholtzer who is a convicted felon.  During the pat search no gun was found on Oberholtzer’s person.  Following an interview with detectives at the Anchorage Police Department, Oberholtzer was remanded at the Anchorage Jail on charges for the carjacking on May 30th and for his actions on June 15th.  The charges were Vehicle Theft I, False Info, Resisting, two counts of Misconduct Involving a Weapon III – Felon in Possession, Fail to Stop, Robbery I, Assault III, and Theft II.

 APD Cases 23-17412 and 23-19173

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.