Update | 3:00 p.m. Sunday
The U.S. Forest Service has reopened the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and most of the trails connected to it.
Forest Service spokesman Paul Robbins Jr. said every trail is open except for the Dredge Lakes trail system. Those trails were closed before the alleged break-in after a bear attacked a dog walker on Friday.
According to a Forest Service news release, security cameras recorded the suspect breaking into the Discovery Southeast bookstore inside the visitor center.
The Forest Service is directing all questions about the break-in to Juneau Police Department.
Police Lt. David Campbell said the suspect is still at large. Police are using the security camera footage to confirm the suspect’s identity, he said.
Robbins estimated that up to 3,500 people could’ve been affected by today’s closure. He said on average, about 5,000 people come to the visitor center every day during the summer.
Update | 11:15 a.m. Sunday
A line of plastic orange cones and U.S. Forest Service employees are turning disappointed visitors away from the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, while law enforcement search for an alleged suspect in a break-in of the visitor center.
“We have sustained a little bit of property damage,” said Brad Orr, district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service in Juneau. “Our initial indications are (that) it’s not that serious.”
The intruder was noticed about 4:30 a.m., Orr said. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is secured by cameras and an alarm system.
The visitor center unit is closed to the public, until law enforcement finishes their investigation, he said.
“That would be everything from the big blue sign at the entrance to the national recreation area all the way up to the visitors center,” he said. “That whole area has been closed temporarily.”
He said the Forest Service may eventually reopen the recreation area, but keep the visitor center closed.
Original Story | 9:31 a.m. Sunday
Early Sunday morning, a security camera recorded a possible break-in at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, according to the Alaska Region Forest Service.
In a series of tweets, the Forest Service said that the road to the glacier was closed and that law enforcement is asking everyone to avoid the area. Police are currently searching for the suspect.
PUBLIC NOTICE: PUBLIC NOTICE: Early Sunday morning, 7/2, there was a break in at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center that was caught on pic.twitter.com/qeaCmou9Uv
— Alaska Region (@AKForestService) July 2, 2017
2-security camera. The road to the glacier is currently closed and law enforcement is asking EVERYONE to avoid the area while they search
— Alaska Region (@AKForestService) July 2, 2017
3- for the suspect. Thank you for your understanding and patience. We’ll post when the road re-opens.
— Alaska Region (@AKForestService) July 2, 2017
Editor’s note: This story will be updated.
