By Lisa Harding
Two men arrested Tuesday for robbing a bank in Provo have been identified by authorities as Christopher Mollner, 33, of Provo and Ira Wakefield, 34, of Helper, Utah.
The two men spent Tuesday night in the Utah County Jail for aggravated robbery. Both men have criminal histories, ranging from aggravated assault to vehicle theft. Mollner has been booked into the county jail 27 times, while Wakefield trails close behind with 24.
The robbery occurred Tuesday morning at the Utah First Credit Union at 310 N. 100 West. One man, now identified as Christopher Mollner, allegedly approached the teller window with a handgun and demanded the teller fill a bag with money. The teller complied, filling the bag with an undisclosed amount of money, as well as a pack of red dye that exploded as Mollner fled the scene.
Mollner's identity was discovered after investigators reviewed the bank's video surveillance system. Credit Union employees were able to verify Mollner's identity in a photo line-up.
Witnesses also watched as Mollner fled the scene of the crime in a white van driven by another man, now identified as Ira Wakefield. A patrolman near Price recognized the van from a statewide police report and stopped the two men about an hour an a half after the robbery.
"When stopped by the Utah Highway Patrol trooper, Mr. Mollner had cash with red dye on it in his pocket," said Provo Capt. Cliff Argyle in a police report Wednesday. Argyle also said Mollner had small amounts of the red dye on his hands.
"It did appear he had tried to clean his hands in an attempt to remove the dye," Argyle said.
The patrolman also found a handgun and a 1-year-old child inside the vehicle. The child was placed in the custody of the Division of Children and Family Services.
Investigators are attributing the ultimate success of the arrest to those who witnessed the robbery.
"The witnesses were very observant and detailed in their descriptions of the events and suspects," Argyle said. "They were careful in their actions and were great witnesses."
Armed robbery is a first-degree felony that carries a possible minimum five-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine.
Copyright Brigham Young University 5 Mar 2008
