At 12:48 PM on February 6, 2023, Anchorage Police responded to a report of the theft of a taxicab; the driver had been injured.  Initial indications are that the adult male taxi driver received a dispatch to pick up a fare, later identified as 41-year-old Clifton R. Blue, from a hospital and drive Blue to an address near E 27th Avenue and Lake Otis Parkway.  Once they arrived at their final destination, some type of altercation occurred wherein Blue produced a knife and swung it towards the taxi driver.  The driver threw up his hand to protect himself which resulted in the driver getting poked in the hand with the knife.  Blue hopped into the driver’s seat of the taxi and drove away.

While at least one officer contacted the victim, other responding officers searched for the taxi.  At 12:59 PM officers found the abandoned cab near W 30th Avenue and Spenard Road.  Upon further investigation, officers learned that Blue was inside a business on the 2900-block of Spenard Road.  Multiple officers responded to the business and saw Blue exit the building.  Blue was given numerous commands to include K9 and less lethal warnings.  Blue ignored the officers’ instructions and began walking backwards towards the business’ front door like he intended on going back inside.  Due to Blue’s previous violent behavior towards the taxicab driver, police did not want Blue to go into the building where other people were.  K9 Midas and a less lethal 40 mm round were both deployed; K9 Midas contacted Blue on his hands which allowed officers to take Blue into custody at 1:12 PM.  Blue was transported to the hospital for treatment of the bite and less lethal deployment.  Afterwards he was taken to the Anchorage Police Department for questioning by detectives.

Clifton Blue was remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the charges of Vehicle Theft I, Assault III, Robbery I, and Resisting. 

The taxi driver suffered minor injuries.  He was evaluated by medics at the scene but was not transported to a hospital.

APD Case 23-4114

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