Trial set in Alpine home invasion

PROVO — A March trial has been set for a man accused of posing as a census worker and holding a couple hostage at gunpoint in their Alpine home.

Tyler Archuleta, 37, of Price, is charged with four first-degree felonies of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated kidnapping; terroristic threats, a second-degree felony; and forgery, a third-degree felony. He pleaded not guilty to all counts in 4th District Court on Wednesday.

Allen Alexander, the president and CEO of Savage Services Corp., testified last month that Archuleta showed him a fake U.S. Census Bureau ID and then pulled a gun on him when he returned from work to his home on Sept. 22. Archuleta's trucking company had past dealings with Savage, a materials transportation company based in Cottonwood Heights.

Archuleta allegedly demanded $100 million and forced Alexander and his wife into their bedroom. Archuleta allegedly told the couple he had placed C-4 plastic explosives on their home and at the company's offices.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Archuleta or Alexander, the couple's 15-year-old daughter was on the phone with police, guiding them to the home. Archuleta allegedly tried to make the couple drive him away from the home, but police swarmed as they went down the driveway.

A backpack Archuleta was carrying on the night of the incident held a clipboard with a census questionnaire, burglary tools, bullets, a loaded crossbow and 14 arrows, police said.

— Paul Koepp