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MILLCREEK — A man with a lengthy criminal history in both state and federal court has been arrested again and accused of attacking a woman at random during a possible kidnapping and robbery attempt.
James Edward Allums, 61, of West Valley, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Sunday and charged Friday in 3rd District Court with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, first-degree felonies; and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.
One of the owners of Stag Barber Shop, 3865 S. 900 East, had closed her store for the day on Nov. 8 and was walking to her car when she was approached by Allums holding a "facsimile pistol," according to a police booking affidavit.
"The suspect demanded (she) give him the car keys and for her to get into the car multiple times. (She) offered the suspect money and the car as the suspect continued to demand (the woman) enter the car. The suspect then forcibly started pushing (her) into the car. (The woman) refused to enter the car and was severely beaten by the suspect with his hands, a large metal cement stake, and the facsimile pistol," the affidavit states.
Allums also produced duct tape, according to police, but the woman was able to fight off Allums who ran from the scene with the woman's purse and car keys.
"(The woman) crawled toward 900 East for help, causing injuries to her knees and leaving a blood trail. (She) was found by a bystander and 911 was called," according to the affidavit.
Prosecutors state in charging documents that the woman suffered a head injury and multiple cuts to her head and neck, some of which required stitches.
Investigators said they learned that Allums had gone to the business the day before and asked what time it closed. Using surveillance video from a nearby business, officers found items discarded by Allums in a garbage can, including "a black facsimile pistol, black gloves, a black beanie, and (the woman's) keys" as well as other items in an adjacent backyard, the arrest report says.
DNA was taken from some of those items and sent to the Utah State Crime Lab where a match was made for Allums, the affidavit alleges.
Police say Allums has an extensive criminal history dating back to at least 1998 when he was convicted of aggravated robbery. Allums is on parole for a pair of bank robberies in Utah. He was sentenced to up to life in prison for one of those cases, according to court records.
"Following his release from prison, Allums was federally indicted for the November 2007 aggravated robbery of a South Salt Lake city bank. He was subsequently convicted of multiple federal charges relating to that robbery and was committed to federal prison," charging documents state.
"James is a danger to the community. He brutally attacked an unarmed female that was unknown to him. He attempted to force her into a vehicle and kidnap her. James brought duct tape, a facsimile pistol, and a cement stake to the scene with him. James struck the victim several times with his fists, the pistol, and the cement stake, causing serious damage and requiring multiple stitches," the affidavit adds.
