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WEST VALLEY CITY — A Salt Lake man was charged Monday with knocking out a convenience store clerk during a beer robbery.
On Dec. 26, three men walked into 7-Eleven, 2321 S. Redwood Road, about 3:40 a.m. and took beer, cigarettes and cash. A female clerk did not attempt to intervene with the robbery, but at least one of the men punched her multiple times.
Nia Brown Lutui, who also goes by Whitkei Lutui, 20, punched the clerk in the head, causing her to lose consciousness, according to charging documents. When she came to, Lutui — who is listed in jail records as 5 feet 11 inches tall and 240 pounds — "placed her in a chokehold and dragged her to the cash registers," according to court documents.
After grabbing an undisclosed amount of cash, Lutui took the clerk to a bathroom in the store, punched her again and left her there, the charges state.
Lutui was charged in 3rd District Court on Monday with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and aggravated assault, a second-degree felony.
Utah state court records show Lutui has been charged previously a couple of times with being a minor in possession of "measurable amounts" of alcohol and interfering with police.
The search for the other two men involved in the robbery continued Tuesday. Anyone with information can call police at 801-840-4000.
