Robbery suspect foiled when Bountiful woman proves unwilling victim

A would-be robber got a stunning response when he threatened to shoot a woman in a Bountiful grocery store parking lot if she didn't hand over her purse.

The woman instead told her 32-year-old assailant to, in so many words, put up or shut up. Foiled, he jumped into a nearby car with two other men inside and began to drive off from the Smith's Marketplace at 555 S. 200 West.

According to Assistant Police Chief Ed Biehler, the suspect had approached the 47-year-old woman as she stood by her car about 10 a.m. Saturday. In a profanity laced demand, he told her, "Give me your money."

"She said, 'Excuse me?' He said, 'Give me your ... money or I'm going to pull my gun.' That's when she said, 'Go for it. Pull it,' " Biehler said.

Startled, the suspect tucked his hands in his pockets and fled — but not fast enough.

The woman ran inside the store, told her tale and a manager called 911. As it turned out, Bountiful officers were nearby and cut off the fleeing suspect before he could even exit the parking lot.

The suspect, who did not have a gun, was arrested without further incident. One of his male companions in the car also was nabbed for possession of drug paraphernalia; the third man in the car was not arrested.

The suspect was booked into the Davis County Jail, where he remained Monday in lieu of $27,200 bail on suspicion of felony aggravated robbery and numerous misdemeanor theft counts from earlier alleged crimes.

Biehler said police would not suggest that anyone similarly confronted attempt to test a criminal's intentions. "It worked out in this particular case, but we definitely don't advise that approach," he said.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims