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WEST VALLEY CITY — Police have arrested three people accused of driving around and robbing teenagers whom they spotted walking to school or work.
Ty Ortiz Valdovinos, 19, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested and booked into juvenile detention for investigation of five counts of aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping. A 14-year-old boy was also arrested for investigation of four counts of aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping.
On Wednesday, a car pulled up next to a boy walking home from school near 3200 West and 3100 South and the occupants robbed him at gunpoint, according to West Valley police.
A short time later, the car pulled up next to a boy walking to work near the Valley Fair Mall. One person pointed a handgun at him and ordered the boy to get into the car, according to a police booking affidavit.
"The victim entered the the passenger car where the males pointed a handgun at him and took his black backpack with his school supplies and work uniform inside," the affidavit states.
The suspects then put a necklace and bracelet on the boy and let him out of the car while keeping his backpack, according to the affidavit.
Detectives later determined that the jewelry given to the boy was stolen in an earlier incident. In that case, the trio allegedly stole jewelry from five people at gunpoint.
The boys who were robbed while walking alone were 15 and 16 years old, according to police, and had no prior connection with the trio.
Based on information gathered from the two robberies, including surveillance video, police were able to track down the car to a residence near 3800 South and 4500 West where the two teens were found, according to the affidavit. Police then contacted Valdovinos after interviewing the teens, and he was arrested.
