Man, teen allegedly robbed woman in Provo with gun, knife

File photo: Gephardt Daily

PROVO, Utah, July 1, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — A man has been arrested after he and a teenager allegedly robbed a woman in Provo while armed with a gun and a knife.

A probable cause statement from Utah County said Rafael Guzman-Hernandez, 34, of Provo, is facing charges of:

  • Aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony
  • Interference with those conducting an investigation, a second-degree felony
  • Aggravated assault, a third-degree felony
  • Assault by prisoner, a third-degree felony
  • Failure to stop at the command of a law enforcement officer, a class A misdemeanor

On Saturday, the arresting officer from Utah County Sheriff’s Office responded to 256 N. 1200 West regarding a robbery with a weapon, the statement said.

“The victim was in her car when two males came up and robbed the victim of her purse with her wallet inside,” the statement said. “One male was at the driver’s window with a gun, while the other was at the front passenger’s window with a knife.”

The male with the knife was later identified as Guzman-Hernandez.

“During the robbery, Hernandez was using the knife, asking for money from the victim and the children inside,” the statement said. “Hernandez put the blade of the knife to the juvenile sitting in the front seat of the car. The suspects ran off with the purse and the victim was able to call the police.”

Officers arrived and spotted two people running in the street. One of the officers yelled for them to stop but they did not and kept running, jumping fences into other properties, the statement said.

“Dispatch received a call from a house in the area that two individuals had gone into the house, with one of them pointing a gun,” the statement said. “Officers were able to keep pursuing the two suspects and with the help of a K-9 were able to find and arrest both of them. A knife similar to the one used in the robbery was found close to Hernandez, as well as the victim’s’ purse that was ditched before the arrest.”

While officers were trying to place Hernandez under arrest and handcuffed, he kicked one of the officers hard enough to knock him off his feet, the statement said.

When Hernandez was in handcuffs, the victim came by and was able to identify him as the man that had the knife. She stated he also had a black face mask on during the robbery, which was under his chin when Guzman-Hernandez was arrested.

The suspect was transported to Utah County Jail, where he is being held without bail.

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