Three Anchorage men are under arrest and charged with cruelty to animals, wanton waste and tampering with evidence in a bizarre moose killing in a city park. 25 year old Johnathon Candelario, 28 year old James Galloway and Nick Johnston, 33, were seen by witnesses attacking a young moose with a knife Tuesday evening. Witnesses called police, but when APD officers arrived, the animal was dead.
APD spokeswoman Anita Shell says the officers located the suspects near the scene. They were wearing bloody clothes and matched witness descriptions. Shell said the witnesses who called police say the men were jumping on the animal and stabbing it with a large knife.
“I have never seen anything like this in my time at the police department. It is very unusual for somebody to attack a large animal such as a moose like they did.” Shell said.
Witnesses told police that the moose was not aggressive, nor did it provoke the attack.
The incident occurred about 7:20 p.m. Tuesday on a public bike path south of Russian Jack Springs Park, in East Anchorage.
The three men are being held in the Anchorage Correctional Complex. The moose meat has been salvaged by a local charity.
