History of Marriott-Slaterville City Volume XVI January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015

January 3, 2015 Courtesy of Weber County Sheriff's Office Weber County sheriff's deputies and Ogden police arrested Matthew James Howell, 51, who allegedly stole two 18-packs of Bud Light beer on Wednesday. They found in Howell's motel room "an extensive amount of beer." Clerks' quick thinking leads cops to alleged beer shoplifter By LORETTA PARK Standard-Examiner staff MARRIOTT- SLATERVILLE— A 51- year-old man really wanted his beer but did not want to pay for it, according to court documents. Now Matthew James Howell is charged with one count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, in 2nd District Court in Ogden. According to the probable cause affidavit filed Friday, a Weber County sheriff's deputy was called on New Year's Eve to a robbery at Pilot Travel Center, 1670 W. 12th St., in Marriott-Slaterville. Two store clerks told the officer that a man had gone to the beer cooler, removed two 18-packs of Bud Light and then left without making any attempt to pay for the beer, according to the probable cause document. The clerks, a man and a Howell woman, followed the man, who was later identified as Howell, to a green Mazda truck. When the male clerk tapped on the passenger window, Howell reached over and locked the door, according to the document. The male clerk went behind the truck and was writing down the license plate number when he made eye contact with Howell, who turned his head back. While the clerk was still standing behind the truck, Howell put the truck in reverse and accelerated, forcing the clerk jump out of the way, according to the document. The deputy reviewed the store's surveillance tape and saw what the clerks told him happened. Howell was found at Western Colony Inn in Ogden, where he had been staying. When Howell opened the door to officers, he was wearing the clothes the clerks had described and what was seen on the video surveillance tape, according to the court document. According to a news release posted on Facebook, deputies also found "an extensive amount of beer" in the motel room. "Based on the evidence in the room, it is believed the man has committed many similar crimes along the northern Wasatch Front," according to the release. A police photo shows a small portion of the beer that was found in the room. Contact reporter Loretta Park at 801-625-4252 or lpark@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @LorettaParkSB. Like her on Facebook at www .face- boo k.com/SELorettaPark.