Anchorage teens arrested in truck thefts, vandalism

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Three Anchorage teenagers are under arrest, accused of stealing and destroying two late-model pickup trucks, Alaska State Troopers said.

Troopers responded to Jim Creek, up the Knik River valley from Palmer, about 3 a.m. Sunday after a camper in the area saw several teens driving and trashing two vehicles. The vehicles turned out to be a 2002 GMC pickup and a 2000 GMC pickup, both stolen from a U-Haul company in Anchorage, troopers said.

One truck was set on fire and destroyed. The other was also a total loss. Each truck had an estimated value of $18,000, troopers said.

David E. Carlson, 18; Bruce A. Sledge, 19; and James E. Stinson, 18, were taken to Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in Palmer. All were charged with two counts of first-degree vehicle theft and two counts of third-degree criminal mischief. Bail for each was set at $30,000 cash.