Free wireless networks are open and there's no theft of service. Now if the guy had tried to breach a SECURED witreless network, THAT would be a crime and theft of service. By definition, you can't steal from something that every one has access to. He should take a lawyer and sue the Anchorage police for abuse of authority under color and for illegal arrest and unlawful confiscation of property. He didn't commit any crime and the police had NO business rousting him and seizing his laptop.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I agree; if it's an unsecured wireless network and it's on, particularly if it's a public site paid for with tax dollars, there can be no theft of services.
If he committed a crime by theft or otherwise while online, that's different. If he simply played games on an open public network, so what?