CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Early Sunday morning, police apprehended a man for allegedly stealing a whopping $70,000 in jewelry from a jewelry store in Cedar City. However, his accomplice is still on the run.
The arrested individual, 47-year-old Eric Drexel Resma, was taken into custody in Iron County. He faces multiple serious charges, including aggravated burglary, aggravated assault causing serious injury, and theft exceeding $5,000.
Details surrounding the incident reveal that at around 4:25 a.m. on July 27, Resma and an unidentified suspect arrived at a jewelry store located on N Main Street in Cedar City. They were driving a black Acura RDX, notably with a license plate obscured by underwear.
According to police reports, the passenger exited the vehicle and smashed the front window of the store using a crowbar. Following that, he began to break open display cases, hastily stuffing jewelry into a camouflage backpack.
The commotion attracted the attention of the shop owner, who lived upstairs. As he rushed down to investigate, Resma’s accomplice reportedly assaulted him before both suspects made their getaway in the Acura, even with the owner unsuccessfully trying to leap into the car.
A police officer from Southern Utah University noticed a vehicle without lights and with a covered license plate. He attempted a traffic stop, but Resma drove off, prompting a chase.
After the robbery, the store owner drove around in search of the Acura. He ended up spotting it heading south on I-15 and observed one suspect tossing the backpack out of the window while fleeing.
As he trailed the car, Resma eventually crashed the Acura on the frontage road of I-15 Northbound at mile marker 30. Officers arrived while the suspects took to their heels.
Shortly after, police found Resma hiding in nearby bushes. They also recovered the camo backpack loaded with stolen jewelry still carrying its price tags. Plus, more stolen items, methamphetamine, a sledgehammer, and a crowbar were discovered inside the vehicle.
The total value of the stolen jewelry was estimated at about $70,000.
Resma now faces several charges and is booked in Iron County Jail, while his accomplice remains at large. This unidentified suspect is described as a male wearing a dark hoodie and a mask. Residents in the Pintura region are urged to stay alert and report any unusual activities. If anyone has information on this case, they should contact Cedar City Dispatch at 435-586-2955.
Note: The charges mentioned are allegations only. All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
