Employees at a South Salt Lake grocery store thwarted an armed holdup Thursday, sending the would-be robber to a local hospital.
About 6:40 a.m., a man approached a bakery delivery driver at the receiving door of Ream's Food Store, 2783 S. State. The man, who was armed with a black handgun, told the driver it was a robbery and that he wanted to go inside the store.South Salt Lake Police Capt. Theresa Garner said two Ream's employees then exited the store and approached the gunman.
"They got into a struggle with him and a shot went off," Garner said. "Nobody was injured, and the police arrived shortly thereafter."
The Salt Lake man, 40, was knocked unconscious in the struggle. He was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and later released to police custody, Garner said.
Store manager Ken Lund said this was the first armed holdup at the South Salt Lake store. "We train (employees) to a certain extent, but I don't think you can train anyone exactly how to handle a loaded gun."
Garner said it was a dangerous situation for the employees and suggested people in similar situations "don't handle it that way."
The store was closed when the incident occurred.
Salt Lake County deputy sheriffs are questioning the man in connection with another robbery at a Dan's Food Store last month. In that case the robber wore a mask and threatened clerks with a fake bomb.
"We're 99.9 percent sure it's the same guy," Parr said.
Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Parr said police found similar bombs and a mask on the man who was arrested at Ream's Thursday.