This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Springville police quickly brought an armed robbery suspect to justice early Friday, arresting the 20-year-old man moments after he held up a convenience store at gunpoint. Then, the drama began.
Police Lt. Dave Caron said the Springville man allegedly entered the Maverik store at 309 N. Main Street just before midnight Thursday, brandishing a handgun and demanding cash and cigarettes. After getting both, he forced the store's clerk into a restroom and then fled.
"Officers immediately responded and began searching for the suspect, described as white male, wearing a gray hoodie with a blue bandana covering his face and fingerless gloves," Caron said. "He was located just a few blocks from the store."
The suspect ran and jumped a fence, the process snagging and pulling down his pants. Unable to free himself from the fence, officers were able to take him into custody.
The suspect told police he had thrown away the gun, but officers found it still in his pants. Officers also recovered an undisclosed amount of cash that had been stolen from the store.
However, the suspect was determined not to go quietly to the Utah County jail.
"On the way to jail, the suspect attempted to escape from the officer's vehicle by beating his head against the rear side window of the car. Doing this he managed to cut his forehead and had to be taken to the emergency room for medical treatment," Caron said.
After treatment, he was released and the trip to the jail resumed — but not without more criminal drama.
"While at the jail, he head-butted a sheriff's deputy and began spitting at and assaulting officers. He also managed to kick out the rear side window of the police car," Caron said. "He now faces multiple charges including robbery, kidnapping, assault and a variety of other charges."
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