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SALT LAKE CITY — Criminal charges have been refiled against a Salt Lake man accused of robbing a boy of his shoes at gunpoint.
On March 22, Keshab Bhattarai, 19, along with two others approached a 15-year-old boy waiting for the S-Line at 2225 S. 500 East and told the boy he liked his shoes, according to charging documents.
The group then told the boy to follow them to a nearby alley where they took his shoes at gunpoint, the chargers state.
After the robbery, the boy called his mother who picked him up along with her boyfriend and the three went looking for the suspects. They spotted one of the men still holding the shoes near 400 E. Haven Ave. When the men saw the mother and her boyfriend get out of the car and walk toward them, police say they dropped the shoes and ran. But as they ran away, one of the suspects fired a shot in the direction of the others, according to the charges.
Based on surveillance video from the TRAX station, police identified Bhattarai as one of the three men. He was originally charged in March with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. But the case was later dismissed.
On Tuesday, prosecutors refiled the same charge in 3rd District Court. The charges do not say whether the other two suspects have been identified.
According to court records, the case is just the latest in a series filed against Bhattarai, a documented gang member, this year.
In August, he was charged with driving a stolen vehicle, two counts of failing to stop for police, reckless driving, causing an accident and not having a driver's license. In September Bhattarai was charged with receiving a stolen vehicle and intoxication. And in addition to the aggravated robbery charge, he was charged on Tuesday in a second case with unlawful possession of a financial card and unlawful use of a financial card.
