Nightshift Officers Nab Residential Thief.

During the earlier morning hours of 02/06/19, at about 3:45 AM, a nightshift officer from Patrol Team A was driving through the residential area of Radcliffe Road when he saw shoe prints in the fresh snow. The shoe prints appeared to be going into several different driveways. The officer further investigated and saw that the shoe prints appeared to be going to various vehicles in the area, but not to the residences.

Additional officers responded to the area and started tracking the shoe prints in the snow. Officers located more shoe prints around several residences in the area, which led to Meadow Lane. Officers located a shed with an open door that the shoe prints appeared to go up to and then away from. Alongside the shoe prints leaving the shed, there were drag marks in the snow.

As officers continued their search, the shoe prints left in the snow were becoming more recent; with less snow filling up the print. In the area of Stikine Street and Meadow Lane, officers located a man who was walking and leaving the shoe prints they were tracking. Officers ordered the man to stop, but instead of stopping, he started to run off, and a foot pursuit began.

Officers chased the man through fresh snow, multiple residential yards and over several fences. Officers surrounded the area and as the man emerged from behind a residence on Kevin Court, officers were there waiting for him. The man was detained without further incident. The man was identified as 24-year-old Juneau resident, Christian Thomas Knapp.

Officers located two bags and a chainsaw on the ground next to where Knapp was seen prior to him trying to run away. The chainsaw was identified as belonging to the home owner of the shed that had been entered.

Knapp was placed under arrest for burglary 2nd degree, a class C felony, and theft 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor. Knapp was taken to the jail and held without bail.

The Juneau Police Department is requesting assistance from residents of the Radcliffe, Meadow Ln, Scott Dr, and Kevin Ct areas. If you have outdoor surveillance cameras installed, JPD is requesting that you review video footage of 02/06/19, from roughly 3:00 am – 4:10 am for the possible presence of a suspicious person on private properties followed be police officers. Please preserve any video footage should it be located and contact Officer Scherrer at 907-500-0753, reference case 190206-001.

The Juneau Police Department is also requesting that if you live in the area and know that you have been the victim of a theft, especially from a vehicle, during the previously stated timeframe, please contact Officer Scherrer with a description of the missing property.

A map of the area where officers searched for Knapp has been posted on the Juneau Police Department Facebook page.