Police name officer who shot burglary suspect

Police have identified the officer who shot a burglary suspect in Eagle River last Thursday as Hunter Hasbrouck, a 4 ½ year APD veteran. Here's a press release police sent out this afternoon:

Subject: Officer Involved in Shooting Identified

Case #09-52454

The Anchorage Police Officer who shot a burglary suspect on Thursday, October 22, 2009 is identified as Hunter Hasbrouck, a 4 ½ year APD veteran.

Officer Hasbrouck responded to a break-in at the Family Pharmacy at the 11400 block of Business Boulevard shortly before 1:00 a.m. on October 22, 2009. Upon arrival at the business, Officer Hasbrouck observed a male exit the back door of the business with a gun in one hand and a crowbar in the other. Officer Hasbrouck repeatedly instructed the suspect to drop the weapon of which the suspect did not comply. Officer Hasbrouck shot the suspect in defense of his life.

The suspect, Matthew Sanchez, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries (gunshot wounds to the chest). He was arrested on an outstanding warrant which had been obtained earlier in the evening relating to theft, fraud and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. Sanchez remains in the hospital under Department of Corrections supervision.