ANCHORAGE — A woman suspected of armed robberies at two Anchorage coffee shops was disarmed and arrested when she attempted to rob a tobacco shop, Anchorage police said.
Tonya Holler, 33, was charged with robbery and felony assault after she was taken into custody Thursday.
Police said Holler entered Smoke 4 Less and pretended she was going to buy something from the owner before pulling a handgun from her purse and demanding money from the cash register.
The woman behind the counter put her hands up and stepped back. Police said Holler walked around the counter and took money from the cash register as the owner grabbed the handgun.
After a struggle, the shop owner managed to throw the gun onto the floor.
Holler then pulled a hunting knife from her purse and tried to stab the owner, police said.
After another struggle, the owner took control of the knife, threw it on the floor and pinned Holler against the counter, police said.
The owner also pushed a panic button and yelled for help.
Workers at a beauty shop next door called 911 and summoned a man leaving a restaurant. The man helped subdue Holler until officers arrived, police said.
Police arrested Holler on two outstanding no-bail felony warrants for two previous robberies at Kodiak Cup and Aftershock Espresso. Aftershock Espresso is just three blocks north of the tobacco shop. That robbery was recorded by a security camera.
Holler was charged with robbery and felony assault from the events Thursday.
Online court records did not indicate that Holler is represented by an attorney.
