Bountiful man held in Centerville theft

BOUNTIFUL — A Bountiful man suspected of robbing a bank was taken into custody Monday after a SWAT team fired tear gas into his home.

William Dale Walstrand, 33, was booked into the Davis County Jail for investigation of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony.

Witnesses said Walstrand entered Chase Bank, 315 N. Marketplace Drive in Centerville, about 3:45 p.m. and announced he was robbing it, said Centerville Police Lt. Paul Child. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money. Walstrand then turned to leave, Child said, dropping a handgun that he picked up before fleeing the bank on foot.

An employee at a nearby business told officers she had seen a man matching Wallstrand's description get into a black pickup truck. Police had been searching for a similar vehicle prior to the robbery, based on reports that the driver was possibly impaired.

Child said officers used the license-plate number from the possible DUI call to track Walstrand to his home on Spring Creek Drive in Bountiful.

Officers from four police agencies surrounded the home after obtaining a search warrant. Child said attempts were made to call into the home by phone, but officers got no answer. They used a bullhorn next, and a 12-year-old boy came to the door.

The boy was removed from the home and taken into protective custody by FBI agents, Child said. He told authorities his father was in the home, but he thought his dad was asleep.

"He also said that he saw that his dad had a black handgun in his black Dodge pickup that evening," the Child said.

SWAT officers eventually fired tear gas into the home through several windows and then entered.

Walstrand was taken into custody without incident. Child said the man was under the influence of a narcotic at the time of his arrest and therefore could not be questioned.

e-mail: geoffliesik@desnews.com

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