Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CEDAR CITY — Two people were taken into custody after an armed robbery outside of a hotel led to a pursuit into Washington County on Friday morning. At least one and possibly two more suspects remain at large, officials said Friday evening.
Police responded to a report of a robbery outside a Hampton Inn, located at 1145 S. Bentley Blvd, shortly before 8 a.m., according to Cedar City Police Lt. Jimmy Roden.
Roden said a man and woman were traveling through Cedar City and got into their vehicle outside the hotel when multiple individuals in another vehicle approached them. One of the individuals began arguing with the man before striking him in the head with a pistol and taking a bag that reportedly contained "a large amount of cash" inside it, Roden said.
The individuals then fled the scene. The man and woman were able to provide officers a description of the vehicle the individuals left in and a partial license plate number. That vehicle was spotted traveling south on I-15 by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper.
The individuals fled from the trooper before abandoning their vehicle and fleeing on foot near an exit in Toquerville. Authorities were able to apprehend two individuals, Emmanuel Martinez, 20, and Carlos Reyes, 20. Officers from multiple agencies are still searching for at least one more individual, but said there may also be another suspect at large; they should be considered armed and dangerous. Police described the suspect or suspects as approximately 30 years of age, male and Hispanic. Roden cautioned drivers near Silver Reefs or Leeds in Washington County against picking up hitchhikers.
Reyes and Martinez were booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, theft and failure to stop at the command of a police officer.
Roden said the man struck by the pistol was treated for a wound at the scene and didn't need to go to a hospital.
St. George News reported that a reverse 911 alert was sent out advising residents in Leeds of an incident “involving multiple subjects that have fled from our department,” adding that numerous agencies were involved.
