I only remember 20 minutes or so, 30 at the most, and I think the entire thing took an hour and 15. I was just hoping to stay alive. I would be happy if I had a couple of broken bones basically. I just wanted to be alive. – Rob Nelson

MILLCREEK — A Millcreek man was bound by duct tape during an early morning home invasion and about to be robbed Tuesday before police arrived at his house.

About 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, Rob Nelson, 56, heard a knock at his door, 4210 Monarch Way (3145 East). A man and a woman claimed their car had run out of gas or had broken down, and she needed to use the bathroom, Nelson said.

Nelson let them in and talked to the couple for about five minutes. That's when "another guy bursts through the door," grabbed Nelson and dragged him into the kitchen, he said.

He said he was assaulted and had tape wrapped around his head covering his eyes, as well as his feet and hands. Nelson believes he was knocked unconscious during the attack.

"I only remember 20 minutes or so, 30 at the most, and I think the entire thing took an hour and 15," he said. "I was just hoping to stay alive. I would be happy if I had a couple of broken bones basically. I just wanted to be alive."

The alleged assailants continued to beat him and ask questions in an effort to find mostly money, he said.

But another person outside the house spotted the activity and thought it was suspicious, used his car to block the suspects' pickup truck and called 911.

Police believe a total of four intruders went into Nelson's house.

Unified police arrived just as the 48-year-old woman was coming out the door. She was arrested. The other suspects jumped out a window and ran off, said Unified police detective Ken Hansen said. Detectives were able to seize their truck.

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Nelson said the suspects attempted to take at least two computers and TV in addition to cash and credit cards.

Anyone with information on the incident can call police at 801-743-7000.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Email: preavy@deseretnews.com, Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam

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