Hurricane City Police badge | Graphic courtesy of the Hurricane City Police Department, St. George News
HURRICANE – Two men are in jail on charges of beating and robbing a Hurricane man who police said was lured to a downtown location under the guise of helping out a woman who recently befriended him.
Paulasi Aitui, 20, and Taualia Taveetia, 21, of Hurricane were arrested Thursday on a first-degree felony count of aggravated robbery in connection with the April 26 incident.
The 29-year-old victim, who suffered a head injury as a child during a car accident, told police two male suspects approached him in the early morning hours, beating and robbing him of cash and other property.
The victim told police he thought he was going to meet up with a new friend who needed financial help. Instead, the victim was assaulted and beaten, receiving multiple injuries requiring treatment at the hospital.
Hurricane Lt. Shayne Copeland said the arrests came after long hours of work from a network of law enforcement officers in the patrol division and gang unit.
“This was good work, a great team effort,” said Copeland. “We want to send the message out that we are willing to put in whatever time is necessary and will do everything we can to make certain criminals like this are found and put in jail.”
Aitui and Taveetia each were booked into the Washington County jail on a $20,000 bond.
Police are continuing the investigation and ask anyone who knows anything about this incident to call the Hurricane Police Department Tip Line at (435) 635-7911 or by email to: [email protected]