Police: Man leaves his two small children alone to rob Maverik

A man was arrested early Saturday morning after he left his two small children at home to rob a gas station and then pulled a knife on officers, Salt Lake City police say.

The man, 25, allegedly robbed the Maverik gas station at 676 N. Redwood Road, and then returned to his residence in west Salt Lake City, said Lt. Bryce Johnson of the Salt Lake City Police Department. Police used a bloodhound to trace the man's scent back to his home. There, police knocked on the door and the man opened it. He pulled a knife out, and the police officers pulled their guns, ordering him to drop the knife.

"He said 'No, drop your guns,' " Johnson said. "The police officers failed to do so, but he decided not to push the issue."

He was caring for his two young children, both under the age of 5, when he left them to commit the robbery, Johnson said.

The man was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of first-class felonies of robbery and assault by a prisoner and second-degree felonies of aggravated assault and reckless child abuse.

smcfarland@sltrib.com