Religious faith persuaded an alleged getaway driver in a bank robbery to surrender to police nearly a year after the crime, police said.
The 19-year-old Pleasant Grove man approached police in early October, said Orem police Sgt. Craig Martinez.
He confessed to driving the getaway car after the robbery of Alpine Credit Union on Dec. 23, 2008, Martinez said. Investigators then found another man who allegedly walked into the bank wearing sunglasses, a beanie and a wig and passed a note demanding cash.
The tellers complied, and the two men allegedly spent the money they got, Martinez said.
Police on Tuesday arrested the man who walked into the bank, another 19-year-old from Pleasant Grove. The getaway driver has not been arrested yet because prosecutors are trying to decide what charges he will face.
The investigation into the robbery was at a standstill before the getaway driver came forward, Martinez said. The man confessed his role in the crime to his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bishop as he prepared for a mission then went to police, Martinez said.
"We don't know where our investigation would have led us had he not come in," he said.
