Police arrest accomplice in robbery spree

Two days after arresting a man in connection with a recent rash of armed robberies around the Salt Lake valley, police say they nabbed his accomplice.

Laroy Gene Butterfield, 39, was arrested Thursday morning in West Jordan and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated robbery, the Taylorsville Police Department said.

Police said Butterfield was one of two men responsible for the May 14 armed robbery of a Taylorsville flower shop, and the June 2 robberies of a Subway and Little Caesar's restaurants.

Earlier this week, local and federal law enforcement agencies arrested Lloyd Everett Pace in connection with nine robberies around Taylorsville, Salt Lake, South Salt Lake and West Jordan.

Through witness' descriptions, Butterfield and Pace were pegged as possible suspects after officers made a traffic stop June 2, police said. The men were cited for having an open container and released.

The men were arrested after witnesses identified them in photo lineups.

Pace, 45, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of nine counts of aggravated robbery. He has been charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery in U.S. District Court.

Between May 23 and June 1, Pace robbed Hollywood Tan in South Salt Lake, Pierless Beauty Supply in Salt Lake County and the Fashion Bug in Taylorsville, according to the federal complaint.

The Hobbs Act makes a robbery a federal offense if it interferes with interstate commerce. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in district court on Wednesday.

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