Matthew Vanvliet apprehended by K9 Ray; Angelina Thomas also charged

At 11:26 PM on December 4, 2021, a K9 officer conducted a traffic stop on a black GMC pickup being driven recklessly by an adult male in a business parking lot at E Northern Lights Boulevard and A Street.  The officer contacted the driver, 23-year-old Matthew P. Vanvliet, who was on felony probation for Burglary II.  The officer called Adult Probations who requested that Vanvliet be arrested for a probation violation.  The officer notified Vanvliet that he was under arrest, and as the officer was applying the handcuffs, Vanvliet broke free and ran on foot.  The officer gave a K9 warning which Vanvliet ignored.  K9 Ray was deployed; K9 Ray contacted Vanvliet’s arm and took Vanvliet to the ground.  Vanvliet was taken into custody without further incident.

After being medically cleared at the hospital, Vanvliet was remanded at the Anchorage Jail for a felony Probation Violation charge. He was also charged with Resisting.

The adult female passenger, 20-year-old Angelina Thomas, was not wearing a seatbelt when the traffic stop was conducted.  She initially refused to identify herself and she fled from the GMC when backup officers arrived on scene.  She was caught within a short distance, however, she physically resisted during the handcuffing process.  After Thomas was identified it was discovered she had an outstanding warrant.  Thomas was remanded at Hiland Correctional on that warrant and she was also charged with Obstruct Investigation by Fleeing.

APD Cases 21-39380 and 21-39381