Two suspects have been arrested and charged in the robbery of the Smoke King shop, located in Mountain View.
An armed robbery was reported to the Anchorage Police Department just after 7 p.m. Saturday. The caller said that “a male armed with a gun demanded money from an employee at the Smoke King and then fled in a vehicle,” according to a release from APD.
The suspect — identified as 21-year-old Siaosi Sila — “left the store with approximately $3,000 in cash,” according to court documents.
Police were given a suspect vehicle description by witnesses, who were also able to give them license plate information. APD located the vehicle near automotive garages on the 340 block of Concrete Street.
Charging documents say Sila was the passenger in a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Solomon Tavita, who did not pull over when police activated their lights. Sila then ran into an auto shop, but APD was able to obtain a warrant and located the gun and the suspected amount of cash, charging documents say.
Sila was charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree weapons misconduct, two counts of third-degree assault and violating conditions of his release from jail.
Tavita was charged with failure to stop at direction of an officer. As of Sunday afternoon’s arraignment, Tavita was no longer charged with first-degree robbery, pending further investigation and review of additional police reports.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.