A 23-year-old Fort Wainwright soldier is facing robbery and theft charges after he and other suspect allegedly robbed pedestrians at gunpoint.
Early Sunday morning, Fairbanks Police Department officers responded to multiple reports of two suspects, carrying a shotgun and a pistol, robbing pedestrians, according to a statement from Amber Courtney, spokeswoman for the City of Fairbanks.
At 1:17 a.m. Sunday, police received a report that two male pedestrians near a strip club on Rewak Drive had been robbed. According to the victims, two males had approached them in a vehicle, which was driven by a third suspect. They allegedly threatened the victims with firearms and stole a wallet and a cellphone, Courtney wrote.
Police investigation resulted in soldier Keith A. Downing being taken into custody and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count each of third- and fourth-degree theft for two separate incidents. Additionally, authorities suspect Downing was involved in a third robbery during the same timeframe.
The second armed suspect and driver are still being sought for questioning, the release says. The suspects were driving a gray 2005 Volkswagen Jetta with license plate ESD903. People with additional information on the string of robberies are encouraged to contact Detective Adams at 450-6478 or Detective Mallory at 450-6557.