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Sandra Yi ReportingDennis Vail: "I thought he was going to kill me. You bet I was scared."
A 72-year old man fighting cancer, endures a violent robbery. Now the search is on for the suspect. The robbery happened last Thursday at the victim's barbershop in South Ogden. The suspect got away in the victim's truck, and there's still no sign of him.
Two weeks ago the man first walked in to the barbershop, pretending to be a customer. The victim believes it was all an act to plan out the crime. Last Thursday barber Dennis Vail stayed late for a walk-in customer. Vail recognized the man.
Dennis Vail: "He had been in about 10 days before."
But the man hadn't come in for a haircut.
Dennis Vail: "I realized later that what he was really doing was casing the joint."
The man asked to use the bathroom and lured Vail back there, asking him to check the toilet.
Dennis Vail: "And while I was down like this, he grabbed me and threw me against the wall, bloodied my nose. And he said, 'Do everything I say or I'll kill you.'"
The man duct taped Vail's mouth and hands and continued the threats.
Dennis Vail: "Said, 'Now don't give me any trouble or I'll break you in two.'"
Vail tried to resist. He managed to loosen the tape over his mouth, but his small frame was no match for the stocky suspect.
Dennis Vail: "I asked him, 'Why are you doing this to me, I haven't done anything to you.' And he says, 'Cause I have an emergency. Shut up or I'll kill you.' He was scared. He was in a hurry. I think he wanted to get out of here."
The man rummaged through the shop, then made his getaway in Vail's truck. Vail waited until it was quiet to get help.
Dennis Vail: "But I walked slowly and carefully out here and with my hands like this, I was dialing 911."
Vail, who is fighting lung cancer, says the suspect knew about his illness. He wonders how someone can be so heartless.
Dennis Vail: "I think nobody should have the right to do that to another person."
Police still have not found the suspect or Vail's truck. It's a 1998, white Chevy S-10, extended cab truck with Utah license plate, 425-MAD. If you have any information, call South Ogden Police.
