Man Robbed At Gunpoint in Provo, After Pulling Over To Make Call
Aug 28, 2018, 9:58 PM | Updated: 9:58 pm
PROVO, Utah – A man’s attempt to safely make a cell phone call by pulling over to the side of the road, made him an easy target for two robbers, who held a gun to his head.
The robbery occurred near 600 South State in Provo, Sunday night, just after 10 p.m., according to Provo Police Sgt. Nisha King.
“They actually climbed into his vehicle, got into the back seat, put his arm around his throat, held a gun to his throat and demanded money,” she said.
The 19-year-old victim cooperated and handed over $40 in cash. Police credit him for keeping his cool and giving officers a very good description of the two robbers, including that they spoke to each other in another language and had a heavy accent while speaking to him in English.
Within just a couple of hours, investigators were able to follow leads, which took them to 19-year-old Peterson Berson, a Haitian immigrant, who was arrested.
A 16-year-old boy was also taken into custody for his role in the robbery, and police say this type of random crime in Provo is rare.
“Both individuals in this incident were taken into custody within a few hours, so there is not any continuing danger to the public,” she added.
Berson is being held in the Utah County jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery. Bail is set at $30,000. The 16-year-old remains in juvenile detention.
Police say the victim did a lot of things right by cooperating with the robbers, but also say it is important to be aware of your surroundings and if you are going to pull over, make sure you do so in a well lit area, with the doors to your vehicle locked.
