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Two assaulted after 74-year-old woman refuses to give would-be carjacker her vehicle

Posted at 8:30 PM, Jun 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-11 23:56:18-04

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Two women were physically assaulted during an attempted carjacking in West Valley City Saturday, and the suspect has so far managed to evade police.

Things began when a suspect was observed breaking into a vehicle, and that suspect ran away after a homeowner confronted him.

Lt. Dalan Taylor, West Valley City Police Department, said the suspect fled toward a home in the area of 3600 South and 5100 West.

“There was a 74-year-old female just getting into her car in her garage,” he said. “The suspect approached her, demanded her car from her, and she refused. When she refused, he began to assault her. There was another 56-year-old who was present also. She came around to help, he assaulted her also.”

Jessica Shortt, who lives nearby, heard the commotion.

“I was able to hear her yelling at someone, and then she would yell for help in the middle of screaming at this person,” Shortt said.

By the time the neighbors made it outside, the suspect had left on foot. The 74-year-old woman was bleeding from her mouth, and the 54-year-old woman had been pushed to the ground. Both were taken to a local hospital to be treated and are expected to recover.

Jeff Mackay, another neighbor, said police responded quickly.

“As soon as this thing happened there was Salt Lake City in here, there was West Jordan in here, several West Valley officers here,” he said. “They saturated this area like you wouldn't believe.”

Officers searched the area for the suspect, who so far has not been found. He is described as a Polynesian male who stands between 5-feet 2-inches and 5-feet 5-inches tall. He was described as having severe acne and was last seen wearing shorts and a hoodie.