ST. GEORGE — An evening around a campfire was disrupted when a local man allegedly pointed a laser and robbed one teen 24 hours after he appeared in court on an unrelated assault case.
The suspect in the case, 18-year-old Gavin David Williams of St. George, was arrested following the incident Feb. 24.
Emergency dispatch received a call shortly before 10 p.m. reporting a robbery in Washington County. According to charging documents filed with the courts, officers responded to learn that the victim, a minor, was sitting around a campfire with several friends off Turkey Farm Road.
While there, officers learned the teen saw what appeared to be a laser beam shining in his direction; witnesses described it as similar to a laser attached to a firearm.
Then they observed a man standing in the direction from where the laser beam appeared to have originated. Authorities later identified the man as Williams.
When the complainant approached Williams, the report states the suspect accused the teen of “stealing his vape pen” — an accusation the complainant denied.
Officers noted that the victim “emptied his pockets to show Gavin he had not taken his vape pen.”
From there, police say the suspect “demanded” that the teen hand over his jacket, as well as jewelry and other items. The victim, who police say had a laser pointed at him minutes before, believed the suspect had a gun and complied.
Investigators also received information alleging that Williams “always carries one.”
Officers then went to Turkey Farm Road to speak to the suspect. While en route, heading north, the report states that the officers encountered the suspect’s vehicle heading south.
When Williams attempted to pass the patrol vehicles, the man lost control of the car and crashed. The suspect exited the vehicle and reportedly walked away while deputies called out his name and ordered him to stop.
Deputies approached, and a short scuffle ensued before police took Williams into custody.
Additionally, the suspect later admitted to drinking but was not given a field sobriety test due to safety concerns, the report states.
According to authorities, the suspect became combative as he was being placed in the patrol vehicle. While fighting with police, Williams reportedly kicked one of the deputies in the face. He was pulled out of the car and taken to the ground.
The suspect was transported to St. George Regional Hospital and medically cleared before being transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility in Washington County.
The suspect was jailed on a second-degree felony robbery and third-degree felony assault by a prisoner. He’s also facing five misdemeanors that include: a DUI with a minor in the vehicle; interfering with an arresting officer; minor consuming alcohol; being an alcohol-restricted driver, and operating a vehicle on a suspended license.
One day before the arrest, Williams was in court in St. George, where he pleaded guilty to three aggravated assault charges, one of which was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor in exchange for a guilty plea.
The case was filed following two separate incidents reported on the night of Sept. 27, 2022, according to the report. The first involved the suspect reportedly punching a man in the face after a rodeo. And the second involved a motorist who was forced off of the road by a suspect who was later identified as Williams.
After forcing the car off the roadway, police say the suspect punched the victim in the face multiple times and kicked a dent in the car door.
During the sentencing hearing, the defendant was placed on two years probation and fined $750. He also completed an anger management course in February.
Following last week’s arrest, Williams remains in custody without bail.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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