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ST. GEORGE — A man police say was armed with a skateboard when he robbed a southern Utah car wash of less than $400 did not make a clean getaway and now faces several felony charges.
Michael Maxwell Whitaker, 28, of Farmington, was charged Tuesday in 5th District Court with two counts of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; and failing to stop at the command of police, a class A misdemeanor.
On June 24, Whitaker approached a man in the 100 block of Center Street in St. George, got into the man's car and attempted to steal it, according to a police booking affidavit. When Whitaker couldn't find the keys, he exited the vehicle and threatened to assault the car owner unless he gave up his keys, the affidavit states. Whitaker eventually left the area without the vehicle.
A short time later, he approached employees of a car wash and demanded cash, according to the affidavit.
"He held up his skateboard in a threatening manner. He then demanded cash from the register as he held the skateboard in a threatening manner. He also demanded the cash or he would physically assault them with the skateboard," the affidavit states.
When police spotted Whitaker, he initially ran off and refused to stop. He was eventually chased down and arrested, the affidavit states.
