This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
South Jordan police credit news media in their apprehension of both suspects within days of a violent robbery of a Wal-Mart outlet. The arrests also closed the file on an earlier holdup nearby.
Police spokesman Sam Winkler said tips generated by coverage of the Monday night incident at the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, 3706 W. 9800 South, led to the arrest of one of the 20-year-old suspects Wednesday. Within a few hours, the second suspect surrendered to police in South Salt Lake.
"[He] turned himself into authorities [Wednesday] afternoon. [He] told investigators that it is because of the media attention that he decided to turn himself in."
Both men were booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of two second-degree felony counts of robbery — one each for the South Jordan robbery and one on Sunday at another Wal-Mart, in neighboring West Jordan.
It was the second suspect taken into custody who allegedly assaulted a store clerk after he and the first suspect left without paying for groceries, police say.
On Monday night, the duo allegedly entered the South Jordan Wal-Mart, packed a shopping cart with groceries and left without paying. A store employee followed the suspects outside, keeping his distance while calling 911. However, the suspects — both described as 250-pound plus Pacific Islander males — saw him in the act.
That was when one of them rushed the worker, punching him off his feet. When other employees came to the man's aid, the suspect threatened them, too, and then drove off with his accomplice, police said.
The 34-year-old victim, who suffered minor facial and arm injuries, was treated at a local hospital.
A security camera image captured a partial plate number from the suspects' vehicle that police made public, generating tips that soon identified the men.
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