This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Police are crediting a persistent cab driver for helping them nab a suspect just moments after he allegedly held up a man inside a restaurant restroom.
Salt Lake City police Detective Robin Heiden said a 19-year-old patron of P.F. Chang's, at 174 W. 300 South, was threatened and robbed of cash about 5:45 p.m. Saturday. However, before the 19-year-old suspect could leave the restaurant, the victim followed him out of the restroom and pointed him out to staff.
An employee tried unsuccessfully to stop the suspect, who fled onto the street. That is where a cab driver spotted and followed the suspect. He then directed an arriving police officer to where the man was hiding behind a trash bin about a block away from the restaurant.
Police took the suspect into custody after a brief chase, booking him into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of felony robbery, burglary and theft counts, as well as numerous drug possession and drug paraphernalia-related charges. He remained behind bars Monday in lieu of more than $27,000 bail.
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