At 2:05 PM on May 20, 2020, APD responded to Home Depot Northway regarding a shoplift that turned into a robbery. Arriving officers began looking for the suspect who had reportedly fled the area on a bike. Police located a man matching that description, later identified as 31-year-old KC J. Barnette, behind some trees on Airport Heights just south of Penland Parkway. Officers gave Barnette commands and took him into custody without incident. Next to Barnette was a bike, and sticking out of bags hanging on the handlebars were items stolen from Home Depot.
Initial indications are that Barnette entered the store and was seen by Loss Prevention (LP) attempting to leave the building without paying for over $600 worth of items. When LP confronted Barnette, the two began to struggle when LP attempted to retrieve the merchandise Barnette was in the process of stealing. During the altercation Barnette picked up an axe he had stolen, and held it up over his head like he was going to strike LP, which put LP in fear of immediate substantial injury.
LP was able to get two items back; Barnette fled with the rest of the property. Barnette was subsequently remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the Charges of Robbery I, Theft II, and Assault III. There were no injuries… Anchorage Press
