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WEBER COUNTY — Police have arrested a man after he robbed a Motel 6 at knifepoint and led officers on a manhunt, police said.
Liam Gail, 26, entered a Motel 6 at 1206 W. 2100 South in West Haven around 1 a.m. Monday, according to the Weber County Sheriff's Office. He remained in the lobby for about 30 minutes while other guests were checking in and mentioned to the clerk that "his name was Rich and he was trying to walk on for the Weber State University football team," the sheriff's office said.
Gail told the clerk he had a scholarship at Arizona State University, but ended up losing it after getting into trouble, the sheriff's office said. After the lobby cleared, Gail allegedly approached the front desk, pulled a knife on the clerk and demanded money. He fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, the sheriff's office said.
Officers said Gail was armed and dangerous.
An officer saw Gail in an Ogden 7-Eleven convenience store near 40th Street and Adams Avenue around 11 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to the scene and Gail fled on foot, prompting a manhunt in the area. There was a short foot chase through an Ogden neighborhood and several agencies and a state Utah Highway Patrol helicopter assisted in the search.
"The neighborhood was shut down for some time while searching for him," Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Lane Findlay said. "It was a pretty big deal. 40th Street is a main thoroughfare."
Around 1 p.m., Gail was found at a residence at 321 40th Street and was arrested without incident. Four other people at the home were detained and could face obstruction of justice charges, Findlay said.
Gale was booked into the Weber County Jail in connection with aggravated robbery and avoiding apprehension.
Contributing: Brianna Bodily
Weber County Sheriff's Office
