Robbery suspect caught thanks to vigilant bystander


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SALT LAKE CITY — Police nabbed one man wanted in a robbery and are looking for another in two unrelated crimes Monday afternoon.

An 85-year-old woman told police she was robbed after a bank transaction at Wells Fargo, 778 S. Main, just before 3 p.m. Monday, according to Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Robin Heiden.

As the woman was leaving the bank, the man followed her, police said. Once outside, "he forcibly removed (the) victim's purse from her arm, causing her to fall to the ground," Heiden said in a statement.

A witness intervened and got the license plate number and description of the car the man was driving, Heiden said.

"He went above and beyond," she said, referring to the witness.

Early Tuesday, officers found a car matching the vehicle's description near 1200 West and 1700 South. The man tried to leave in the car, but the vehicle was trapped in the snow.

The man was reported to be armed with a .38 caliber pistol, according to police.

Police arrested the man, Scott Perry, 66, for investigation of robbery, fleeing police, weapons violations and prior warrants. Officers found a box of .38 bullets in the trunk of his car.

The woman received minor injuries. Heiden was unable to confirm whether all the contents of the woman's purse were returned.

Suspect wanted in Bank of Utah robbery

Police also are on the hunt for a man who robbed the Bank of Utah, 711 S. State, at 3:32 p.m. Monday.

The man approached the teller inside the bank and ordered the employee to give him money. When the teller obeyed, the man retreated with an undisclosed amount of cash and headed south on State Street on foot, police said.

He is described as a white man, 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build and a beard and mustache. He was wearing an orange shirt, black jacket, black pants, black backpack and gray beanie.

Police do not believe the man who robbed the Bank of Utah is the same man who wore a knit cap while robbing three credit unions in December.

It was one of three bank robberies Monday.

Anyone with information on the robberies can call the FBI at 801-579-1400, the Unified Police Department at 801-743-7000, or Salt Lake City police at 801-799-3000.

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