Bountiful man foils robbery by honking horn, but it was a close call

Bountiful police say a would-be robber was unusually well equipped for crime, but even having a pistol in one hand and a stun gun in the other brought him no ill-gotten booty.

Assistant Police Chief Ed Biehler said the suspect, described as 5-foot-8 to 6-foot Latino or Polynesian male, wearing a ski mask and a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark pants, remained at large Thursday.

The male victim was parked in a lot at 1350 N. Main Street about 10 p.m. Wednesday, reading while he waited for his wife to leave a nearby business.

"Then he heard the driver's side door open. Thinking it was his wife, he turned, only to see the suspect holding a handgun," Biehler said. "He demanded his wallet and money, but the victim said, 'I don't have any [money].' "

Still holding the pistol in one hand, the suspect produced a stun gun with the other and shocked the victim once on the arm. The victim then began honking his horn and the suspect fled on foot into the night — but not before firing twice into the car.

Other than being shaken by the incident, the victim was uninjured. But it was a close call: police found one bullet lodged in the door frame and another in the steering column.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Bountiful police at 801-298-6000.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims