WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police have arrested two men in connection with a recent violent armed robbery.
Now detectives from other agencies are trying to determine whether the men can be linked to additional crimes in their jurisdictions.
Anousak Kaykeo, 41, of West Jordan, and Bounchanh Phanthachith, 41, of Magna, were both arrested Sunday for investigation of two counts of aggravated robbery and three counts of aggravated assault.
On Oct. 20, two men wearing masks and armed with handguns entered Quick Pick, 4655 S. 4800 West, and told the store clerk to get on the ground, according to a police affidavit. The men hit the clerk on the head with the gun handle and then took $1,100 cash from the register.
Three other people were in the store at the time. The suspects robbed one man of a $100 bill at gunpoint, police say, then ordered everyone to the ground at gunpoint.
Based on witness descriptions of the suspects and their getaway car, Phanthachith was identified by police as a possible suspect.
On Sunday, police spotted the suspected getaway car and pulled it over. Kaykeo and Phanthachith were inside. Police also found two handguns and clothing that matched the type used by the gunmen in the robbery, the affidavit states.
In 2005, Keykeo made headlines for robbing a couple at gunpoint — making one get on his knees and pointing a gun at his head — before leading police on an hourlong low-speed chase. Police had spiked Kaykeo’s tires as he was fleeing, but he continued to drive on the vehicle’s rims.
Kaykeo was convicted of robbery, a first-degree felony, and sentenced to five years to life in the Utah State Prison.
In 2003, Phanthachith was convicted of robbery and sentenced to one to 15 years in prison. He was also convicted in federal court in 2005 of unlawful transportation of firearms and sentenced to two years in federal prison.
West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said Salt Lake police were also looking at both men in connection with recent armed robberies in their city.