by Kylee Boyter
kboyter@cherryroad.com

On August 6, a man, later identified as Michael Douglas Hathaway, age 43, attempted to rob the Utah Independent Bank, in Monroe. Hathaway is now facing multiple other charges, including aggravated arson and assault following a standoff with Millard County Sheriff’s and other agencies on Sat., Sept. 7.

According to the probable cause statement filed by a Sevier County Sheriff’s detective in the case, Hathaway allegedly walked in to the Monroe bank, handed a teller a note saying, “don’t look or tell anyone or else I’ll shoot.” The teller allegedly froze and Hathaway ran out of the bank without taking any money.

Hathaway was identified through surveillance footage collected from Utah Independent Bank.

Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis stated “Hathaway was taken into custody after an arrest warrant was obtained by Sevier county detectives last week.”

Curtis shared that the case is still active. “The arrest was a combined effort of Sevier and Millard counties, the US. Marshall’s Office, and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Special Emergency Response Team (SERT),” said Sheriff Curtis. “Hathaway was barricaded in a home in Millard county and refused to exit the home so another search warrant was obtained to enter the residence.”

At some point a fire began in the home and Hathaway eventually fled the home and was taken into custody. Due to injuries sustained from the fire, Hathaway was taken to the local hospital to be evaluated before booked in the Millard County Jail. Since then, Hathaway has been life-flighted to the University of Utah Burn Center for treatment.

“The fire is currently under investigation, but is believed to have been started by Hathaway,” said Sheriff Curtis.

In the probable cause statement released by Millard County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), it stated that a “non-incendiary tear gas canister was then deployed by SERT officers through a trailer window with the intent of forcing defendant to exit the mobile home. Moments later SERT officers observed smoke and flames inside the trailer.”

Shortly there after, Hathaway exited the trailer and approached MCS officers, who commanded him to stop.

It is stated in that “SERT officers and Millard County Sheriff’s personnel observed that Defendant had been seriously burned while inside the trailer and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Defendant remains hospitalized and a warrant is necessary to ensure his appearance upon release from the hospital.”

It was shared that the arrest was made by good teamwork between Sevier and Millard County deputies.

“I give them all the credit for the good work on following leads and gathering evidence. There will be more to follow as we complete the investigation,” said Sheriff Curtis.

Paul Dewsnup, property owner, and Bethany Wright, the individual who informed officers of Hathaway’s whereabouts, told The Richfield Reaper that the incident caused major damage, destroying the trailer which Wright had been living in.

Dewsnup is suspicious of the nature of the fire, however the State Fire Marshal’s Office has yet to release their investigation findings.

Hathaway is currently facing multiple charges in multiple counties, including Sevier County.