TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, May 23, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A man who police say attempted to rob a 7-Eleven in Taylorsville while wielding a hatchet Tuesday morning has been linked to at least one other robbery, in April.
A news release from Unified Police Department spokesman Lt. Brian Lohrke said Cory Whipple confessed to the 7-Eleven robbery after his arrest, as well as a prior robbery at the same 7-Eleven on April 11.
UPD officers received a call of a man entering the 7-Eleven at 3180 W. 5400 South at approximately 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.
The suspect produced a hatchet and demanded cash from the clerk, who did not cooperate with the suspect demands.
The suspect ran out of the store and attempted to rob a second employee who was standing outside the business. The suspect then ran northbound and entered a dark-colored Jeep Cherokee driven by a woman. A witness saw the suspect enter the Jeep and followed the vehicle to the area of 1900 W. 3300 South before losing sight of it.
A West Valley Police K-9 officer spotted the vehicle parked in a driveway of a residence in the area. When backup officers arrived, the male and female suspects were standing in the back of the driveway area. UPD officers began to investigate and collect evidence, including conclusive video that led to the arrest of two suspects.
Detectives from the UPD Violent Crimes Unit interviewed both suspects.
Detectives are still considering Whipple as a prime suspect in the Taco Bell robbery at 3197 W. 5400 South that occurred on April 23.
In that robbery, a suspect threatened the clerk with a hatchet and a knife while demanding money. The suspect then fled on foot, heading south.
Police set up a containment area, but the suspect wasn’t found at that time.
The woman who was originally arrested was released without charges filed.
