SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 11, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A man arrested for investigation of two felony counts each of aggravated robbery and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person Monday morning has been released from jail without bail.
Salesi Tuatonga, 32, was arrested after Salt Lake City police say he and another person were allegedly involved in the armed robbery of people living in an RV in the city’s Glendale neighborhood.
Police classified the alleged crimes as first- and second-degree felonies.
SLCPD was dispatched at 4:08 a.m., an agency news release says. Based on the preliminary investigation, two people with rifles entered an RV and demanded cash from the occupants, the release says.
“The entry door was opened by two unknown subjects pointing rifles at the victims as they entered,” Tuatonga’s affidavit says.
“While at gunpoint, the subjects demanded money and their belongings from them. The subjects took money from the wallet of one victim. The subjects then took two butane canisters and a lighter from the RV as they were leaving. Before exiting the RV, the subjects advised the victims not to follow or they would shoot them.”
The “subject vehicle the victim described was tracked down to an apartment complex in Salt Lake City,” court documents say. “In plain sight, officers viewed two rifles, a butane canister, and rifle magazines.
“A victim described one of the magazines as being clear so you could see the bullets inside. In the vehicle, one of the magazines that officers could see was a clear magazine as well. These items all match the items used in the commission of the crime.”
While on scene, “officers saw a male leaving the apartment complex and stopped him. The male, later identified as the r.o. (registered owner) of the subject vehicle, was detained.
“Post Miranda, the (man, later identified as Tuatonga) admitted the firearms in the vehicle belonged to him. (Tuatonga) has a conviction for felony 2 robbery, preventing him from owning firearms. (He) admitted that he knew this and knew he was not allowed to possess firearms. (Tuatonga) admitted to driving his vehicle this morning out to where the robbery occurred.”
Tuatonga “also admitted to using firearms to steal from people this morning.”
A search warrant was issued for Tuatonga’s apartment and vehicle.
Detectives executed a search warrant on the subject vehicle and apartment.
“Items matching those stolen from the RV and firearms used in the commission of the crime were located.”
The arresting officer noted that if freed, Tuatonga “would constitute a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail.
District Court Judge Robert Faust ordered Tuatonga to be released without bail on conditions including he promise to appear for all court proceedings, promise not to commit any criminal offenses, and cooperate with daily automated phone check-ins, among other constraints.
The SLCPD news release did not mention any apprehension of a second suspect in the case, and Gephardt Daily could not find any seemingly related arrest in online court records.
