Summit County deputies respond to bomb threat, robbery in Oakley; suspect taken into custody

Photo: Summit County Sheriff’s Office

A tip from Oklahoma City police set off a chain of events Tuesday that included a knifepoint robbery, a 1999 white limousine and an arrest on SR-32

OAKLEY — Summit County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a bomb threat and an armed robbery in Oakley on Tuesday, ultimately taking a suspect into custody following a vehicle pursuit on State Route 32.

The incident began just after 9 a.m. when Oklahoma City Police Department contacted Summit County dispatch, reporting that a male individual had called to say his girlfriend was en route to Chateau Health & Wellness with a bomb in her vehicle.

Deputies immediately began responding to the facility, located at 400 W. 4200 N. in Oakley.

About 15 minutes later, dispatch received a separate 911 call from an employee at Ken’s Kash store at 980 W. Center, reporting that a woman had entered the business, brandished a knife and demanded money. The suspect left empty-handed after employees refused and called 911.

Investigators quickly determined the two incidents were connected. “A lot of the description that Oklahoma City had of the potential bomb threat suspect was actually matching up perfectly to the description that we were getting from Ken’s Cash,” Sgt. Skyler Talbot said. “We were able to determine that these two incidences were related.”

Deputies located the suspect’s vehicle, a 1999 white limousine, in the Oakley area.

The suspect failed to yield when deputies initiated a traffic stop, prompting a pursuit. “It was a relatively slow speed pursuit that originated in the Oakley area, and went on SR 32 towards Rockport,” Talbot said. Utah Highway Patrol troopers deployed spike strips at mile marker 22 on SR-32, disabling the vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle and fled briefly on foot before surrendering. Deputies took her into custody without further incident.

An explosives detection K-9 was deployed on the vehicle following the arrest. “We did deploy an explosives detection canine on the vehicle after this person was taken into custody and determined that there were no explosives in the vehicle,” Talbot said.

Investigation revealed the woman was a former employee of Chateau Health & Wellness who had been terminated and was believed to be living in Oklahoma. Talbot said investigators believe her boyfriend was the third-party caller who had contacted Oklahoma City police.