TOOELE, Utah – A man has been charged for his role in an alleged armed robbery that occurred at a toy store in March, and the victim of the robbery said the suspects were disguised as utility employees and had asked to check the power box before producing a gun and forcing her to comply with their demands.
According to a statement of probable cause filed Wednesday in the Third District Court, Manu Sonasi Faleola, aka “animal”, faces two counts of aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon as first-degree felonies. The 33-year-old man is from Tooele County.
The statement alleges Faleola was one of two men who entered Digital Toyz, 1780 South Redwood Road in Salt Lake City, while dressed as employees of Rocky Mountain Power on March 6.
The woman who was working that day told police the men entered the store and told her they needed to check the power box. Once inside, one of the suspects allegedly pulled out a black handgun and told the woman, “I’ll shoot you. Get in the bathroom, but first empty your pockets, b—-.”
The victim stated the suspects took about $110 from her pocket and another $1,000 in cash from the store’s register and cash lock box. She also said they fled with eight drone helicopters and two cell phones valued at about $1,958.
The woman said the men locked her inside a bathroom and told her they would kill her if she attempted to escape.
Faleola’s initial court appearance is scheduled for May 11. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and his bail amount is $250,000.
