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SOUTH SALT LAKE -- South Salt Lake police say a man thought he was being polite by giving a friend from work and another man a ride home Saturday night, but the two men hit him in the head with a gun and robbed him.
The South Salt Lake man picked up 43-year-old Scott Roberts and 50-year-old Gilbert Ellis around 11 p.m. at a Ream's store near 2800 South and State Street. He thought he was just giving them a ride home, but when he stopped to let them out on 3300 South and 200 East he learned the men had other plans.
"When he let the gentlemen out of the car, they grabbed him, demanded money, produced a handgun," says South Salt Lake police Officer Gary Keller.
Police says Roberts and Ellis quickly turned on the man. Thought he had more money with him, but they ended up stealing $3.
"[We're] told that one of the suspects actually held him while the other guy hit him, pistol-whipped him," Keller said. "What a senseless crime; a guy gets pistol-whipped for $3."
Police say the men beat the victim in the head. Officers arrested Ellis near the scene Saturday, but Roberts got away. On Monday morning, Salt Lake City officers were at this Sugarhouse apartment complex on another call and recognized him.
"He had identified our suspect last night and actually had a name on him, and then Salt Lake City contacted us and said that they had had him and he was held up in an apartment," Keller said.
After Roberts barricaded himself inside, a SWAT teamed raided the home. Now both Roberts and Gilbert are in custody.
The victim sustained a head injury but is expected to make a full recovery.
E-mail: jstagg@ksl.com
