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PROVO – A man’s attempt to safely make a cellphone call by pulling over to the side of the road may have made him an easy target for two robbers who police say held a gun to his head.
The robbery occurred near 600 S. State in Provo, Sunday night, just after 10 p.m., according to Provo Police Sgt. Nisha King.
“(They) actually climbed into his vehicle. (The gunman) climbed got into the backseat, put his arm around the victim's throat, held a gun to his throat and demanded money,” she said.
The 19-year-old victim cooperated and handed over $40 in cash. Police credit him for keeping his cool and giving officers a very good description of the two robbers, including that they spoke to each other in another language and had a heavy accent while speaking to him in English.
Within just a couple of hours, investigators were able to follow leads, which took them to 19-year-old Peterson Berson, a Haitian immigrant, who was arrested.
A 16-year-old boy was also taken into custody for his role in the robbery, and police say this type of random crime in Provo is rare.
“Both individuals involved in this incident were taken into custody within a few hours, so there is not any continuing danger to the public,” King added.
Berson is being held in the Utah County jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery. Bail is set at $30,000. The 16-year-old remains in juvenile detention.
Police say the victim did a lot of things right by cooperating with the robbers, but also say it is important to be aware of your surroundings; and if you are going to pull over, make sure you do so in a well-lit area, with the doors to your vehicle locked.
