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PAYSON — You could call it the case of the "Bow Hunter Bandits."
Police believe the same duo is responsible for two brazen armed robberies of convenience stores in Payson in recent days. In both cases, the robbers looked a lot like bow hunters.
In both holdups, the two robbers were dressed in camouflage with their faces painted black — and used a four-wheeler ATV as a getaway vehicle. But instead of using a bow as a weapon, they pulled a gun.
On Thursday, Payson police arrested Tyler Rowley, 18, of Payson, and a 17-year-old boy from Springville for investigation of aggravated robbery.
On April 13, just as the clerk was closing up for the night at Arnie B.'s convenience store, two men robbed the clerk at gunpoint, getting away with everything in the cash register.
"Individuals dressed in camouflage with their faces painted came in," said Payson Police Sgt. Lance Smith. "One of the males was holding a firearm and they took the money out of the tills that were open and then ran off."
Camouflage and a quad (four-wheeler) in Utah is not out of the ordinary, but at 10:30, 11 p.m., out at night, a four-wheeler with two individuals on it is out of the ordinary.
–Sgt. Lance Smith
By the time police arrived, the men and the four-wheeler were gone.
A few days later on Tuesday night, just before closing time, police say the same two men dressed in camouflage held up the Crest convenience store in Payson. Officers suspected the robbers were from the Payson area.
"Camouflage and a quad (four-wheeler) in Utah is not out of the ordinary, but at 10:30, 11 p.m., out at night, a four-wheeler with two individuals on it is out of the ordinary."
Police say the mother of one of the suspects noticed black paint in the sink on the nights of both robberies, where the two had allegedly washed their faces.
As for the gun used, police say it was actually a BB gun.
When questioned by officers, the two told police they needed the money and committed the crimes for "the thrill of it," Smith said.
Email: spenrod@ksl.com
