Saimone Mafi and Kerisiano Isaako arrested in early-morning car jacking

At 1:30 AM on March 21, 2023, Anchorage Police responded to the 5600-block of Debarr Road regarding a carjacking.  Initial indications are that the adult male victim had pulled over into a business parking lot to rearrange items in his rental vehicle, a 2022 blue Nissan Rogue.  While doing so, a 1993 maroon Chevy Suburban pulled up alongside the Rogue.  An occupant of the Chevy asked the victim if he needed help, the victim declined assistance.  One of the males, later identified as 22-year-old Saimone P. C. Mafi, got out of the Chevy and pointed a gun at the victim.  In fear of being shot, the victim backed away.  Mafi drove away in the rental car while the other male drove away in the Chevy.

Multiple officers responded and began searching for both the Chevy and the stolen Nissan.

Approximately 30 minutes later, one of the mid-shift officers saw the maroon Chevy Suburban being driven near Debarr and Boniface.  The officer followed the vehicle while waiting for other officers to arrive in the area.  When they approached Miley Drive and Nunaka Drive, the Suburban ran through the stop sign and collided with a patrol vehicle.  Both suspects in the Suburban immediately fled on foot; officers gave chase.  The driver, 23-year-old Kerisiano I. K. Isaako, was caught by an officer on Miley Drive and taken into custody.  Mafi ran onto Elmendorf Drive where he was tackled by a pursuing officer.  Mafi was handcuffed without further incident. Mafi requested to be seen by medics; medics responded to the scene and evaluated Mafi.  Afterwards both men were transported to the Anchorage Police Department to be questioned by detectives. 

Saimone Mafi was positively identified as the man who had pointed a gun at the victim and drove away in the victim’s rental vehicle.  Mafi was remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the charges of Vehicle Theft I, Theft II, Misconduct Involving a Weapon III – Felon in Possession, and Robbery I.  Kerisiano Isaako was remanded on the charges of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Assault III, and Fail to Stop.  He was additionally cited for Driving on a Revoked License and Failure to Obey Stop Sign.

At 2:43 AM an officer saw the stolen Nissan being driven through the red light at Arctic Boulevard and W 36th Avenue.  The officer initiated his patrol vehicle’s lights and siren and attempted to catch up to the Nissan.  The officer disengaged due to the suspect’s dangerous driving behavior.  Other officers responded and ultimately located the unoccupied Nissan abandoned at E 46th Court and Juneau Street.  A K9 track was conducted however the suspect(s) were not located and are still outstanding.

Both the Chevy Suburban and the patrol vehicle it struck were disabled and had to be towed from the scene on Nunaka Drive.  The involved officer was not injured.  There is no indication the suspects and victim knew one another.

APD Case 23-9194

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