Salt Lake City Man Allegedly Robs Two Banks, Takes Uber Home After the First Robbery

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging a Salt Lake County man with two bank robberies after he allegedly used a note to rob Brighton Bank then took an Uber ride from the scene. Days later, he robbed a second bank. 

According to court documents, on Oct. 31, 2023, David Converse Harris, 35, of Salt Lake City, Utah, walked into the Brighton Bank located at 93 West 3300 South in South Salt Lake, Utah, and passed the teller a note. The note stated, “Money in till now! Do not alert anyone! No one needs to be hurt right? Wait until I leave to contact authorities.” Harris received money from the teller along with a dye pack that exploded shortly after Harris left the bank. The investigation revealed Harris then left the scene in a blue Chrysler 200. A records check of the vehicle’s license plate returned to an Uber driver. The Uber driver informed law enforcement that he picked up a passenger on Oct. 31, 2023, around the time of the bank robbery, at a games store in South Salt Lake. The game store is in the same plaza as the Brighton Bank. The Uber driver then drove the passenger to 258 West 700 South, Salt Lake City, later confirmed as Harris’ residence. The Uber driver also informed law enforcement that the passenger had red dye on his hands and jacket and smoke billowing out of his right jacket pocket. During the investigation, law enforcement found a dye pack of bait money where the Uber driver picked up Harris. 

As alleged in court documents, on Nov. 2, 2023, law enforcement learned Harris was at a motel in Midvale. Harris was spotted and law enforcement made efforts to arrest him when he fled in a Lexus SUV, which was later identified as stolen. The chase became too dangerous to continue and officers called off the chase. On the same day, Harris allegedly committed another robbery at the Chase Bank located at 1285 East 3900 South in Millcreek, Utah. Surveillance video showed Harris approached the teller counter, passed a note, and left with money. 

On Nov. 3, 2023, Harris was located in Tooele County in the same stolen Lexus. Police attempted a traffic stop, and Harris again fled in the stolen Lexus. A large multi-agency pursuit ensued throughout Tooele County and proceeded into Salt Lake County. Harris eventually drove onto the Jordan River Parkway Trail, where he crashed into a barrier. Harris then fled on foot but was ultimately apprehended. 

Harris is charged with two counts of bank robbery. He is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Nov. 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. 

U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.

The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is investigating the case and had assistance from Taylorsville Police Department, South Salt Lake Police Department, Adult Probation and Parole and Salt Lake City Police Department. 

Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
 
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.