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NORTH SALT LAKE — A man was arrested after he apparently couldn't figure out how to drive the car he stole Monday.
Elias Gunther Blas, 20, displayed a knife and demanded keys from another man who had just parked his vehicle in the parking lot of a North Salt Lake restaurant at about 5:30 p.m., according to the North Salt Lake Police Department. Detective Rob Gwynn said the car's owner handed over his keys and Blas entered the vehicle.
At about the same time, the car owner's friend exited the restaurant, according to Gwynn. He said the car owner got into his friend's vehicle and called 911.
"They come around the side of the building and park near the first victim's car to follow him, but for some reason he isn't able to drive away," Gwynn said. "The victim thinks it was because it was a manual transmission. He doesn't think (Blas) could drive it."
While the owner of the stolen car was still talking to dispatch on the phone, Blas got out and approached the second vehicle. Police said Blas tried to open the door and demanded that the car owner and his friend let him in. As the friends drove away, Blas reportedly kicked the second vehicle's door.
The two friends kept an eye on Blas from a distance until the police arrived and took him into custody, according to Wynn. He said they did the right thing by not trying to fight Blas.
"It's good in this case that no one got hurt," Wynn said. "A car isn't worth getting hurt or killed over."
Blas was booked into the Davis County Jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a valid license.
