Las Vegas men booked in St. George bank robbery

ST. GEORGE — St. George police officers were interviewing two men Wednesday afternoon in connection with a robbery at an area credit union.

Police were called to the Beehive Credit Union at 1127 E. 100 South around 11:15 a.m. on reports of a robbery, St. George police officer Johnny Heppler said. He said a man entered the lobby of the credit union with a gun and wearing a "makeshift" mask.

The man reportedly pointed the gun at a teller before demanding money. The clerk complied with the request, but the money she gave him included a dye pack, which was activated after the man fled on foot.

Police put out an alert for the man and a patrol officer soon spotted a vehicle with expired registration. Heppler said the officer also felt that the occupants of the vehicle were acting suspiciously and initiated a stop on the vehicle. In the car, the officer found clothing matching those the gunman was wearing, a handgun and a mask with dye on it.

The driver, 41-year-old Brett Shumway of Las Vegas, Nev., was arrested for investigation of aggravated robbery. Kristopher Johnson, 20, also of Las Vegas, was arrested for investigation of aggravated robbery and possession of a weapon by a restricted person, and both men were booked into Washington County Jail. The money was recovered.

"This is a significant crime in our community, and I am impressed with the quality of hard work the officers and detectives put in to bring this case to a close so promptly and efficiently," St. George Police Chief Marlon Stratton said in a statement. "It is both comforting and gratifying to know the suspects were safely apprehended with no further violence to the community or the officers."

— Emiley Morgan, Lana Groves