ROY, Utah, Oct. 8, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A 18-year-old man arrested in Roy Monday told police he robbed a credit union “to pay bills and debts.”
A probable cause statement from the 2nd District Court of Weber County said William Anthony Perez III is facing a charge of robbery, a second-degree felony, and failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor.
According to numerous witnesses, on Monday at approximately 9:10 a.m. a man later identified as Perez walked into the America First Credit Union located in the Harmons grocery store, and told three tellers to give him money.
“William also told the tellers he wasn’t playing,” the statement said. “The tellers took it as a threat and were in fear of their safety. After the tellers gave William a large amount of traceable cash William left the bank and Harmons but was followed by another witness.”
Once out of the business witnesses told police Perez ran northbound to the back of the building and continued running northbound on the railroad tracks behind Harmons.
The arresting officer then located a man wearing a dark-colored hoodie and pants walking northbound on the tracks. The officer gave the suspect several orders to stop and he began running, the statement said. More commands were given and he did not stop.
Eventually the man stopped and complied with orders to get on the ground and was taken into custody. A black BB handgun was located on his person during a search incident to arrest as well as a large amount of cash. Pre-documented cash from America First taken during the robbery were found in his possession and around him, the statement said.
“After taken into custody, William was transported to the Roy City Police Department,” the statement said. “William was read his Miranda warning and was willing to speak with detectives. William admitted to committing the robbery at the America First Credit Union in Harmons. William told detectives he did not brandish the BB gun but did intend to use it to intimidate the bank tellers if they did not take him seriously.”
Perez stated his motive was to rob the bank “for the money to pay bills and debts,” the statement said. He also told detectives he saw the arresting officer running behind him, and knew he was a police officer, and heard commands to stop and get on the ground. Perez said he was deciding to keep running or not because the arresting officer was so far away, but couldn’t run anymore because he was too tired.
He was transported to Weber County Jail with his bail set at $12,500.
