PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

July 18, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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SLCPD Arrests Two People Involved in Aggravated Robbery

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department arrested a 30-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman for their involvement in an aggravated robbery.

This investigation started at 8:39 a.m., on Monday, July 17, 2023, when SLC911 received information about a 37-year-old woman being robbed and attacked near 5100 West Wiley Post Way.

Officers got on scene and learned Anthony Alvarado threatened the victim with a knife, took her purse and stole her car.

Officers believe Alvarado ditched the victim’s car and got into another car driven by Christina Bettecher.

Officers tried stopping Bettecher but she refused.

With the help of a Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter, officers located the car at 1500 West Pueblo Street.

Patrol officers, Liberty Division Bike Squad officers, and detectives assigned to the SLCPD’s Auto Theft Squad developed a plan to safely arrest Alvarado and Bettecher.

There are no reported injuries to anyone involved.

Detectives assigned to the SLCPD Robbery and Violent Crimes Squad responded to help with the investigation.

Detectives booked Alvarado into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one felony count of Aggravated Robbery, one felony count of Theft, one felony count of Failure to Stop at the Command of a Police Officer, one felony count of Possession of a Weapon by a Restricted Person and an active warrant.

Detectives booked Bettecher into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one felony count of Failure to Stop at the Command of a Police Officer.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

The Salt Lake City Police Department has a dedicated unit strictly to auto theft. This unit is highly skilled and experienced. The detectives assigned to the SLCPD Auto Theft Unit not only follow up on cases by handling all auto theft investigations, but they deploy into the field to track down known vehicle theft offenders who have warrants or to look for, and recover, stolen vehicles. The SLCPD Auto Theft Unit periodically does multi-day operations, using various department resources and technology to assist in making arrests and recovering vehicles. These operations have an immediate and direct impact on other crimes being committed in Salt Lake City.

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