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SPANISH FORK — Spanish Fork residents were asked to stay home overnight as police searched for a man who committed an armed robbery.
Around 10:45 p.m., a man wearing a ski mask and hoodie pulled out a BB gun and demanded money at the Back Alley Market, 82 N. 100 West, said Spanish Fork Police Lt. Matt Johnson.
The man fled with almost $900 in cash, "a large quantity of cigarettes," and the clerk's cellphone, Johnson said.
Police identified Jesse Hopkins using surveillance footage. The clerk recognized him from earlier encounters, Johnson said.
Officers arrived at the home of Hopkins' grandmother where Hopkins was staying shortly before 1 a.m. and the man fled on foot, according to the lieutenant. Police then sent out an automated call asking residents to stay in their houses as they searched for the man.
A neighbor called police and told them Hopkins was hiding in their backyard. Police arrived and booked Hopkins, 19, of Spanish Fork, into the Utah County Jail for investigation of aggravated robbery and on a warrant charging him with theft.
Police reported finding a ski mask, a BB gun, the stolen cash, about half of the cigarettes and clothing in the backyard of the home where Hopkins was hiding.
