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SALT LAKE CITY — A man robbed a convenience store at knifepoint allegedly to bring attention to Salt Lake City police being understaffed, according to police.
About 11 p.m. Tuesday, Larry Leory Bullard, 62, of Salt Lake City, whom police say was intoxicated, called police dispatchers claiming people were following him and wanted to kill him, said Salt Lake police detective Michael Ruff.
He called back eight minutes later after police didn’t respond fast enough, Ruff said.
Bullard then went into a nearby gas station and stole a pack of cigarettes at knifepoint, according to a police affidavit. Just as he was walking out, an agent from Adult Probation and Parole was walking in, Ruff said.
When the agent was told what had just happened, he detained Bullard until Salt Lake police officers arrived.
“Post Miranda the arrested person stated he staged the robbery to get police to respond faster to a complaint he wanted to make. Arrested person also stated he staged the robbery to show that police were understaffed,” the affidavit states.
The complaint he wanted to make was that he was assaulted, Ruff said, even though officers did not see any evidence that an assault had taken place.
Bullard was arrested for investigation of aggravated robbery and intoxication.
Court records show Bullard has a history if trespassing, intoxication and drug possession.
