ST. GEORGE — Three suspects are in custody with others potentially still at large following an ATM robbery on River Road Monday afternoon.
A suspect in an ATM robbery is taken into custody by St. George Police officers, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Around 1:30 p.m. the St. George Police Department was alerted to a robbery at the Wells Fargo ATM at 1218 S. River Road.
Witnesses reporting seeing multiple Black men and one white woman believed to be involved in the robbery, according to a police press release.
“One citizen who witnessed the robbery followed the suspects providing essential information to law enforcement,” the police reported.
The information led police to the Sherman Road/Sherman Circle area of Bloomington Hills where at least one of the men involved was described as wearing a ski mask, black hoodie and blue jeans.
While the search was underway, nearby schools such as Bloomington Hills Elementary, Desert Hills Middle School and Desert Hills High were placed into a “secure” mode. This means the outside doors were locked and schools continued as normal inside with students not being released until it was deemed safe, said Steve Dunham, the Washington County School District communications director.
This state of security was lifted at Desert Hills Middle and High School by 2:30 p.m. and Bloomington Hills Elementary by 3 p.m.
While searching for the suspects, the police also posted to social media and sent text alerts to residents in the vicinity to stay away from Sherman Road as the manhunt for the masked man continued. They were also asked to report any signs of the suspect to police but not to confront him.
One suspect was apprehended in front of the Little Caesar’s pizza shop on Brigham Road next to the Canyon Media office around 3 p.m. and taken into custody without incident.
St. George Police officers by the Little Caesar’s pizza shop on Brigham Road following the arrest of a suspected ATM robber, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Little Caesar’s employees told St. George News the man had been waiting outside for an order of buffalo wings to be ready when police officers approached him and placed him in handcuffs.
Three suspects are in custody as of Monday afternoon with other suspects potentially outstanding, according to the press release.
Following the arrests, the police issued an update on the incident asking residents in the search area to keep an eye out for items that may be potential evidence.
“If you live in the Bloomington Hills area, specifically, Sherman Drive, Sherman Circle and Fort Pierce and those surrounding areas we ask that you check your side yards, garbage cans, sheds, etc. for evidence related to this robbery,” the police said over social media.
“If suspected evidence is located, please do not touch it and call police immediately. 435-627-4300. Thank you.”
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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